School Leavers

HC Deb 30 July 1962 vol 664 cc6-7W

57. Mr. Wade

asked the Minister of Labour what special steps he has taken to ensure that all those leaving school at the end of the present term are able to find employment.

Mr. Whitelaw

The strength of the Youth Employment Service has been steadily built up so as to give the maximum help and advice to boys and girls leaving school this year. My right hon. Friend has consistently impressed on industry the problems presented by the bulge and in particular the need to increase the opportunities of employment with training. So far this year despite a 35 per cent. increase in school leavers, young people have in general been entering employment without undue difficulty, and apprentice training opportunities have kept pace with the rise.

58. Mr. Prentice

asked the Minister of Labour if he will make a statement on the employment prospects of school leavers this summer; and what are the prospects of a satisfactory proportion of them obtaining apprenticeships and other forms of training.

Mr. Hare

48,618 (or 34 per cent.) boys and 9,562 (or 6.9 per cent.) girls who entered employment in the first six months of 1962 obtained apprenticeships. The corresponding figures for 1961 were 36,932 (or 34 per cent.) boys and 7,320 (or 7.3 per cent.) girls. This represents a 32 per cent. increase and means that apprenticeship opportunities have so far kept pace with the 35 per cent. increase in school leavers this year. Our aim must be to maintain and if possible improve on these excellent results, in spite of the problems there may be locally in certain areas. It is therefore vital that in the coming months employers throughout the country should provide every opportunity for boys and girls to enter apprenticeships and other forms of training.

59. Mr. Oliver

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the increasing difficulty of boys and girls leaving school in the Ilkeston Parliamentary division at the end of term in finding employment; and what steps he pro poses to take to meet this situation.

Mr. Hare

All Easter leavers in the area had entered employment by mid-July. Therefore, the hon. Member's Question is so far not relevant. But as far as the summer leavers are concerned the Youth Employment Service will give full help in finding suitable employment.