HL Deb 15 December 1942 vol 125 cc565-6WA
LORD SOUTHWOOD

asked His Majesty's Government whether they can supply the latest figures of the number of Youth Committees set up, respectively, in England and Wales, and in Scotland.

THE EARL OF SELBORNE

In England and Wales all the 146 local education authorities for higher education (which are the authorities statutorily responsible for the administration of the Youth Service as a service of higher education) have local youth committees. In a few county areas the functions of the county youth committee are for the present being undertaken by committees not solely appointed for this purpose; but in these, and in almost all the other county areas, there are local committees for particular parts of the area working under the county youth committee or other committee functioning as the county youth committee.

In Scotland the Youth Service machinery is at present being overhauled following new recommendations issued by the Secretary of State in September, 1942. It is proposed that in each area the education committee shall have the general charge of the Youth Service scheme and that a local youth council shall be appointed to act in an advisory capacity. Schemes providing for the setting up of a youth council have so far been submitted by seven education authorities and four of these have already been provisionally approved.