HC Deb 25 June 1976 vol 913 cc491-2W
35. Mr. Luce

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what action he has taken regarding the employment of early school leavers.

Mr. Golding

Careers officers are doing all they reasonably can to find suitable jobs for early school leavers. £1.5 million has been made available by the Government to local authorities to provide additional posts in the careers service specifically to deal with unemployment. The Government also announced both last year and this year a number of measures to help young people in the present employment situation. These include financial provision for a greatly expanded training programme, job creation, the recruitment subsidy for school leavers and an expansion in community industry. The need for additional measures is under constant review.

40. Mr. Madel

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he is planning any further measures to assist in the employment of those who will be leaving school next month.

Mr. Golding

The Government have already taken a large number of measures, including the job creation programme, the Recruitment Subsidy for School Leavers, additional resources for training, Community Industry and the Careers Service to deal with unemployment among school leavers and other young people. These measures are under review, especially in the light of yesterday's debate on youth unemployment.

Mr. Scott

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether the Manpower Services Commission will be empowered to authorise fresh projects after October 1976 so as to respond to the needs of this year's school leavers.

Mr. Golding

Yes. The resources made available in February and May to help particularly those young people leaving school this year will allow further projects to be approved.

Mr. Scott

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will authorise the Manpower Services Commission to provide capital to individual small enterprises to be launched which can make a contribution to the reduction of unemployment amongst school leavers.

Mr. Golding

Resources are available under the job creation programme to fund small enterprises which might become self-sufficient after a period of initial funding. Grants to such schemes are on the same basis as for other projects and there are about half a dozen such ventures now underway.