HC Deb 02 March 1983 vol 38 cc237-8
12. Mr. Douglas

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total number of young people aged 16 to 18 years who are currently unemployed in Scotland; and, of these, how many are aged 16 to 17 years and 17 to 18 years, respectively.

Mr. Younger

On 14 October 1982 the total number of young people registered as unemployed at employment offices and careers offices in Scotland was 51,800. Of these, 30,608 were under 18 years of age and 21,192 were aged 18 years.

Mr. Douglas

Will the Secretary of State concede that those are disgraceful figures? The Government, who have been in power for four years and have been managing our economic affairs, have brought about that disastrous state. There is no prospect of a job for young people. Through the training initiative young people are given training for a year but are then disillusioned at the end of the year because no jobs are available. Will the Secretary of State take cognisance of what his right hon. Friend the Member for Chesham and Amersham (Sir I. Gilmour) said? Does he agree that we are suffering more than any other Western industrialised nation?

Mr. Younger

I do not agree with the hon. Gentleman's point, but I agree with him that one of the worst features of the extremely difficult recession that the country is going through, in common with all its neighbouring countries, is the effect on the young unemployed. However, I do not think that the hon. Gentleman would be so unfair as to ignore the fact that the Government have made huge resources available to try to put that right. I am sure that he will be more aware than most that the new youth training scheme is, in its own right, the most exciting new development for young people for many years and brings Britain more into line with what has been done in other countries for a long time.

Mr. David Steel

Welcome though the new youth training scheme is, will the Secretary of State acknowledge that it has created an anomaly, in view of the amount of money that is available to 16 and 17-year-olds who stay on in further education? Will he look at the inadequacy of the grants available to 16 to 18-year-olds and encourage more to engage in further education?

Mr. Younger

That matter is under discussion, as the right hon. Gentleman knows, but the fact is that if we have to concentrate our resources, the right group on which to concentrate them is those who have left school and are unemployed, who could do with a new form of proper training, not just a youth opportunities programme. As a result of the Government's schemes all unemployed minimum age school leavers will be guaranteed not six but 12 months' training in future. That is a great advance.

Mr. Corrie

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is a major problem with hotel staffing in the islands and tourist areas in my constituency? Is there any way in which young people in the scheme can be used there? As the minimum wage is the same in those country areas as in the middle of London, the hotels are finding it impossible to take on young people.

Mr. Younger

I appreciate what my hon. Friend says. Greater flexibility might mean that many more people would be employed. Better training and more training is essential if young people are to be able to take up those jobs in the tourist industry. The most important factor that underlines the youth unemployment figures is that our industry should once more become more competitive and be able to take on more people. Huge strides are being made, as I mentioned, and productivity is improving more rapidly in Scotland than in other parts of the United. Kingdom.

Mr. Harry Ewing

Does the Secretary of State accept the point that was made by my hon. Friend the Member for Dunfermline (Mr. Douglas), that the figures are a national disgrace? Despite the new youth training scheme, is it not a fact that at least 21,000 people of 18 years of age will not come under the new training scheme and so will have no training? Is the Secretary of State aware that, with respect to the 52,000 total to which he referred as being unemployed now, there is a strong possibility that those young people have never had a job since the day they left school? How does he feel, having condemned 52,000 Scottish youngsters to a lifetime of unemployment?

Mr. Younger

There is a problem but it has been grossly overstated by the hon. Gentleman. He should be very careful about making such overstatements, Dearing in mind that the party that he supports has proposals which we understand it intends to bring in which would have a devastating effect on the employment of all youngsters for many years to come, such as withdrawal from the European Community. The hon. Gentleman should think hard about the future before he makes such remarks.