§ 2.41 p.m.
§ Lord AVEBURYMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what guidance has been given to the Careers Service in England by the Secretary of State for Employment since 1st July 1977 concerning the needs and problems of young people belonging to ethnic minorities.
Lord WALLACE of COSLANYMy Lords, in August 1977 revised and updated guidance was issued to careers offices by the Careers Service Branch of the Department of Employment, giving information on the cultural and national characteristics of immigrants from certain Commonwealth countries and Pakistan. This was particularly for the use of staff 1150 called upon to deal for the first time with young people from ethnic minority groups.
§ Lord AVEBURYMy Lords, is the noble Lord satisfied that the guidance issued is adequate to meet the needs of the growing number of young people who are unemployed among the ethnic minorities? Could he say in particular what has happened to the proposal for 20 detached employment officers who it was agreed under the youth employment programme would try to reach those not seeking employment through the normal statutory agencies?
Lord WALLACE of COSLANYMy Lords, the 20 "outreach" officers have been appointed. Their idea is to go out and search for those who have not registered in the normal way, although it is too early at the moment to give results on that. The noble Lord asked me whether I was satisfied. With a tremendous problem like this—it is a tremendous problem—nobody can be satisfied until we have completely solved it. I would add this. In February of this year the Careers Service Advisory Council for England, chaired by the Joint Parliamentary Under-Secretary Mr. John Golding, considered a paper on the employment problems of young people from ethnic minorities. A revised version of this paper will be presented at the Council's next meeting in June and copies will then be sent to all principal careers officers.
§ Lord AVEBURYMy Lords, when the time comes to evaluate the work of the 20 detached officers, will the noble Lord, in conjunction with his colleagues, seriously consider an expansion of this operation, bearing in mind the very large number of young people who do not come through the statutory agencies and who might benefit if they knew the employment opportunities that were available?
Lord WALLACE of COSLANYYes, my Lords, certainly. I also draw attention to the fact that relationships with clients of ethnic minority groups is a subject included in the full-time initial training of careers officers, and there are also specialist in-service courses for careers officers in areas where there are significant numbers of minority groups. The 1151 whole process is geared to try to raise the efficiency and experience of the careers officers to work with the "outreach" officers in order to try to solve this tremendous problem.
§ Lord HARMAR-NICHOLLSMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that, while the sentiments behind this Question and the answers are above question and indeed are to be applauded, we ought to recognise the atmosphere that unhappily prevails in certain parts of the country? We ought not to give the impression that the needs and problems of young people of all groups, the indigenous population and everyone else, are having the highest possible priority by the careers officers. The intention behind the Question is good, but, as it is presented, perhaps the last four words could give the impression that extra priorities are being given. It could cause trouble if that view was generally accepted.
Lord WALLACE of COSLANYMy Lords, I am happy to assure the House that the Government's programme for job opportunities and many other schemes run in conjunction with the Manpower Services Commission is available to all, irrespective of race, colour or creed. When we talk about the ethnic minorities we should remember that there are also disadvantaged young white people. It would be wrong to assume that this is a major problem and the other one does not count. This is a side issue affecting certain people but not the great majority.
§ Lord AVEBURYMy Lords, would the noble Lord agree, following Lord Harmar-Nicholls's question, that the young people among the ethnic minorities have been disproportionately hit by the recession, and that the unemployment rate among the ethnic minorities is many times higher than among the white communities?
Lord WALLACE of COSLANYMy Lords, that was the case, but I am happy to say that there are signs that this is dropping down now. There are many side issues on this, such as language problems and training in English. Courses are being carried out by voluntary organisations, and so on. It is perfectly true 1152 that what we can do is being done, and more needs to be done.
§ Lord HARMAR-NICHOLLSMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that Lord Avebury's supplementary question adds to the very point I was trying to make? Is he aware that to suggest that any group is being disproportionately hit, when other groups feel that they are in the depths of despondency irrespective of their race, colour and ethnic origin, is one of the problems that we have to try to overcome without appearing to show a priority to one group as against another?
Lord WALLACE of COSLANYMy Lords, with all due respect to the noble Lord, I do not disagree one atom with Lord Avebury's intention. He has concentrated his energies and experience on this particular problem, and the House should be grateful for someone who is giving attention to a problem that some people would not like to see appear on paper.