HC Deb 22 July 1980 vol 989 cc153-4W
10. Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the employment prospects for young people leaving school in the North-West this summer.

Mr. Jim Lester

The employment prospects for those young people leaving school in the North-West, as elsewhere, this summer are not easy. This is why the Government have agreed to the Manpower Services Commission's proposal to expand the youth opportunities programme. It is planned that there will in 1980–81 be more than 6,000 additional youth opportunities programme places in the North-West than in the previous year.

35. Mr. Tilley

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give an estimate of the current numbers of unemployed school leavers.

Mr. Jim Lester

At 10 July the provisional number of school leavers under 18 years of age registered as unemployed in the United Kingdom was 295,272.