Mr. Jim Callaghanasked the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the trend in unemployment among school leavers in the United Kingdom during 1979 and 1980.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonThe following tables give the numbers of registered unemployed school leavers under 18 years of age in the United Kingdom monthly for 1979 and 1980.
1979 January 47,429 February 39,403 March 31,151 April 25,823 May 39,295 June 143,770 July 215,426 August 183,472 September 114,277 October 69,356 November 49,700 December 39,196
1980 January 45,919 February 38,172 March 31,791 April 53,720 May 49,417 June 186,369 July 295,511 August 264,883 September 207,329 October 145,809 November 110,744 December 95,383 The hon. Member will know that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced on 21 November last year a major expansion of the youth opportunities programme to help the young unemployed, and also an improvement in the undertaking given to offer unemployed school leavers places in the programme.
Mr. Jim Callaghanasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is considering any new measures to reduce unemployment.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonI refer the hon. Member to the statement made in the House on 21 November 1980—[Vol. 994, c. 204–7.]—in which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment gave details of special employment measures to operate in 1981–82.