§ Mr. McQuarrieasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will arrange to meet the chairman of the Scottish Tourist Board to discuss the opportunities for young people in the hotel and catering industries and how these can be promoted to reduce unemployment.
§ Mr. Allan StewartMy right hon. Friend has at present no plans to meet the chairman of the Scottish Tourist Board. On the occasions when he or my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister of State meet the chairman they are heartened by the progress of the board in helping to increase visitor numbers and to improve the quality of service provided by hotel and catering businesses. The334W Government believe that the board's actions will further extend employment opportunities for young people in these industries.
§ Mr. McQuarrieasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if his Department will make a television film, or video, on the job opportunities for young people in the hotel and catering industries.
§ Mr. Allan StewartMy Department has no plans to do SO.
The careers and occupational information centre of the Manpower Services Commission, in conjunction with the hotel and catering industry training board, has produced two videos "Working in popular catering" and "Working in hotels" which are aimed at young people who are interested in a career in the hotel and catering industry.
§ Mr. McQuarrieasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps are taken by his Department to alert careers officers in schools to the job opportunities for young people in the hotel and catering industries.
§ Mr. Allan StewartIn the light of the report "Pleasure, Leisure and Jobs: The Business of Tourism" published in July by the Government's enterprise unit, my Department wrote to the heads of all careers services in Scotland to draw their attention to the scope for employment in the expanding field of tourism and leisure, of which the hotel and catering industry is a part. A representative of the hotel and catering industry training board subsequently made a presentation at one of the regular meetings which my officials have with the heads of all careers services in Scotland.
The hotel and catering industries are also covered in the annual guide to opportunities and trends in employment produced by the Manpower Services Commission's careers and occupational information centre. This guide is 335W available to all careers officers for use in the individual guidance and counselling work in schools and with unemployed young people.
§ Mr. McQuarrieasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many young people were employed in youth training schemes in the hotel and catering industries in Scotland during November.
§ Mr. Allan StewartThe information requested is not available. However, the latest statistics show that, during the six months ended 30 September 1985, there were 768 youth training scheme entrants in the hotel and catering industries in Scotland.
§ Mr. McQuarrieasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many vacancies were notified to the jobcentres in Scotland during the month of November in the hotel and catering industries; and how many of these vacancies remain unfilled.
§ Mr. Allan StewartVacancy notification analyses by industry are not available monthly. The number of vacancies in the hotel and catering industries notified to jobcentres in Scotland during the quarter 5 August to 8 November 1985 was 10,021. The number of unfilled vacancies at 8 November in the hotel and catering industries was 1,541.