HL Deb 03 March 1981 vol 417 cc1317-8

2.43 p.m.

Lord Brockway

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have reached a decision regarding the implementation of the proposal that military training should be arranged for the jobless young.

The Minister of State, Department of Employment (The Earl of Gowrie)

My Lords, my right honourable friends the Secretaries of State for Employment and Defence are considering what further help they might give to unemployed young people. No decision has yet been taken.

Lord Brockway

My Lords, while welcoming the training of the school-leavers and recognising the right to opt for military training, may I ask whether the Government will give us an assurance that, when discussions with them take place, civilian training will be given equal persuasion to military training? Will the Government be very careful in their procedure not to give any indication of economic conscription?

The Earl of Gowrie

My Lords, there are no suggestions whatsoever of conscription—taking that to mean statutorily enforced military service. The noble Lord will be aware that the Ministry of Defence has been a sponsor of the Youth Opportunities Programme since 1978 when the programme began under the previous Government. Therefore, to refine and improve this sponsorship would seem to be a sensible thing to do.

Lord Avebury

My Lords, if there is any spare capacity for training in the armed services, could this not be used to train civilians in skills which may well be needed by the armed forces but which also would fit young people for careers in civilian life? I am thinking particularly of the engineering trade and engineering technicians.

The Earl of Gowrie

My Lords, one of the great virtues of military training is that it does tend to equip one for civilian life.

Lord Brockway

My Lords, although I appreciate the reply, the Minister did not answer my question, as to whether, when these discussions take place there is persuasion for civilian training equally with military training.

The Earl of Gowrie

My Lords, the vast bulk of the Youth Opportunities Programme is of course in civilian training. That will not change. All I was seeking to do was to say that discussions were taking place as to how the armed forces might provide additional sponsorship within these schemes.

Baroness Vickers

My Lords, in view of the fact that it has recently been announced that the Royal Navy has not enough men to keep the decks of the ships clean, and so on, may I ask whether it will be possible to get a corps of young men to go round to these dockyards and do the polishing and cleaning which is really necessary?

The Earl of Gowrie

My Lords, we do not impose any system of maintenance on the Royal Navy. I am sure that they will feel quite free to come to us if we can help in any way through the Youth Opportunities Programme.