§ 27. Mr. Molloyasked the Minister for the Civil Service what contribution the Civil Service has made to the provision of jobs for young people in the context of Her Majesty's Government's work experience scheme for youth.
§ Mr. Charles R. MorrisThirty-six young people have been placed in Government Departments under work experience schemes. Discussions are proceeding about other schemes in a number of Departments.
§ Mr. MolloyIs my right hon. Friend aware that the figure he announced constitutes a contemptible contribution to a vitally important area of activity? Does he agree that the pathetic endeavours undertaken by the Civil Service still leave vast room for improvement and will he give an assurance that those endeavours will be instituted very much more quickly?
§ Mr. MorrisI made the point earlier that there are areas in which the Civil 23 Service can be criticised. I share the sense of outrage expressed by my hon Friend on this matter. I believe that 36 young people is a deplorable figure. He knows and the House recognises that the implementation of work experience schemes needs the full support of the trade union or staff association representatives concerned. The difficulty that we have encountered is that there is opposition from one of the major Civil Service trade unions.