HC Deb 26 July 1977 vol 936 cc205-6W
Mr. Freud

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the projected

UNEMPLOYED SCHOOL LEAVERS (GREAT BRITAIN)
Month 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972
January … … 48,187 38,024 N.A.* 4,544 9,071 10,063
February … … 39,398 28,033 8,351 3,088 6,608 8,374
March … … 31,293 21,641 5,831 2,019 5,043 7,081
April … … 50,356 21,257 19,912 5,779 4,202 16,472
May … … 42,083 35,070 14,259 4,946 3,288 10,052
June … … 142,709 118,188 18,367 5,429 3,603 8,386
July … … 241,552 199,372 55,260 14,411 7,699 19,218
August … … — 194,545 158,203 55,976 21,623 60,933
September … … — 142,301 117,872 33,426 13,016 41,987
October … … — 77,960 65,292 15,066 5,140 23,228
November … … — N.A.* 40,402 8,026 2,329 13,378
December … … — N.A.* 32,126 N.A. 1,793 9,745
* Figures not available owing to industrial action.

Mr. Freud

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the number of applications by school leavers for Government financed apprenticeship programmes for 1977; and how this compares with the last four years.

Mr. Golding

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that Government assistance for apprenticeships is wholly devoted to supporting training undertaken by industry, and that information is not readily available about the number of applications to individual employers recruiting apprentices with the help of grants under Government schemes. However, industry training boards and other organisations have asked for—and been granted—33,500 grants and awards under the special measures programme to encourage additional recruitment and training in 1977–78, compared with take up of 30,756 and 23,820 grants and awards in 1976–77 and 1975–76, respectively. Because grants are paid in arrears, it will not be possible to estimate before October or November how many of the 33,500 grants available in 1977–78 are likely to be taken up. rate of unemployment of school leavers by the month during 1977; and how this compares with each of the previous five years.

Mr. Golding

It is not possible to make reliable projections of this kind. The entry into employment of summer-term school leavers usually spreads over a period of several months and it will be October/November before a true assessment of the level of residual unemployment can be made. Month-by-month statistics of unemployed school leavers for the first seven months of this year and for each of the previous five years are as follows:

However, from the experience in 1976–77, the Manpower Services Commission is confident that the great majority of these grants will be taken up.