HC Deb 31 January 1978 vol 943 cc237-8
13. Mrs. Bain

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total number of registered unemployed young people in the United Kingdom; how many of these are in Scotland, England and Wales; what is the total number of registered vacancies in the United Kingdom for such age groups; and how many of these vacancies are in Scotland, England and Wales, respectively.

Mr. Booth

The latest information available is for July 1977, when there were 708,517 young people under 25 unemployed in Great Britain, of whom 89,627 were in Scotland, 575,710 in England and 43,180 in Wales. As I told the hon. and learned Member for Montgomery (Mr. Hooson) earlier, these figures reflect the inclusion of about 240,000 school leavers Since then, this number has fallen by over 180,000.

Unemployment figures for Northern Ireland are not directly comparable with those in Great Britain.

There is no age analysis of vacancy statistics.

Mrs. Bain

Irrespective of any decline which may have occurred, in view of the earlier answer given to the hon. and learned Member for Montgomery (Mr. Hooson) concerning North Sea oil revenues, and in view of the right hon. Gentleman's own commitment yesterday to doubling the youth opportunities programme, will he now tell us exactly what level of funds will be made available for this programme? Will he also indicate whether any discussions are taking place to ensure that training undertaken during this period will be recognised as training towards apprenticeships?

Mr. Booth

Yes; the funding which we have estimated as being the requirement of the youth opportunities programme is in the order of £160 million a year. The existing programmes in Scotland have produced more than 38,000 job creation places, as the hon. Lady knows, and nearly 6,000 work experience places. The limitations on these have not been from funding. I think the hon. Lady will appreciate that wherever a worthwhile scheme has been proposed, my Department has made arrangements to fund it.

Mr. Pavitt

Is my right hon. Friend aware that in all parts of the United Kingdom there is still a grave shortage of personnel in the professions supplemental to medicine? Will he have urgent talks with his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services in order to set up a crash programme to get young people recruited and absorbed into that sector?

Mr. Booth

I shall certainly discuss with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services how far I can assist in this through the programmes that my Department is running for young people.

Mr. Marten

If in the years ahead there are to be a million more jobs, as I understand the Government have said, I urge them to use again their slogan "Back to work with Labour" at the next General Election, so that we can have a very fair debate on promise and performance.

Mr. Booth

Whatever slogans parties may choose in the next General Election. I hope that all parties which promote candidates will put forward their proposals and their assurances concerning job creation. When we initially proposed these schemes from the Government side, many of them were condemned very harshly in debate by Opposition Members, who now suggest that they should be extended.