§ Mr. Atkinsonasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will carry out sample surveys throughout the Greater London Council area to ascertain the rise or fall and geographical movement of available skilled engineering jobs over the last 10 years compared with the rest of the United Kingdom; if he will associate his inquiry with the declining opportunities whch now exist for young people to acquire skills in the engineering trades in the London area; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John FraserMy Department is aware of the fall in manufacturing activity in Greater London over recent years but I have no plans to carry out detailed surveys on the lines suggested by my hon. 487W Friend at the present time. If the number of engineering apprenticeships available for young people in the London area this year proves to be insufficient to meet the demand, the Manpower Services Commission hopes that its recently announced special measures will provide the necessary alternative training opportunities.
§ Mr. Atkinsonasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list in the most convenient form the number of engineering apprenticeships listed at each of the employment offices throughout the GLC area, together with the number of school leavers who have expressed a desire to become engineering craftsmen.
§ Mr. John FraserI regret that this information is not readily available and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.
The recruitment of apprentices from summer school leavers normally continues throughout August, but in some GLC areas the number of engineering apprenticeships on offer will probably be insufficient to meet demands. School leavers who are suitable for but unable to obtain such apprenticeships may, however, be assisted by the special training measures introduced by the Manpower Services
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ESTIMATED NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES IN EMPLOYMENT IN GREATER LONDON (Thousands) Industry Order Standard Industrial Classification: 1958 June 1966 June 1969(a) Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing … … … … 6.3 4.9 Mining and Quarrying … … … … 6.2 6.3 Food, Drink and Tobacco … … … … 150.9 137.6 Chemicals and Allied Industries … … … … 99.4 91.3 Metal Manufacture … … … … 30.0 24.2 Engineering and Electrical Goods … … … … 458. 410.8 Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering … … … … 10.0 8.4 Vehicles … … … … 86.9 69.6 Metal Goods not elsewhere specified … … … … 81.3 73.4 Textiles … … … … 19.9 17.2 Leather, Leather Goods and Fur … … … … 16.5 151 Clothing and Footwear … … … … 113.0 101.9 Bricks, Pottery, Glass, Cement, etc. … … … … 36.5 31.0 Timber, Furniture, etc. … … … … 75.8 63.6 Paper, Printing and Publishing … … … … 189.3 180.5 Other Manufacturing Industries … … … … 69.3 67.4 Construction … … … … 286.8 258.1 Gas, Electricity and Water … … … … 84.9 76.3 Transport and Communication … … … … 449.4 440.6 Distributive Trades … … … … 703.8 643.8 Insurance, Banking and Finance … … … … 273.7 304.8 Professional and Scientific Services … … … … 479.0 501.3 Miscellaneous Services … … … … 601.6 569.1 Public Administration … … … … 338.0 335.8 Total, all industries and services … … … … 4,667 4,432 Commssion and the industrial training boards. Withn the GLC area the Engineering ITB has already provided 85 training places on first year apprenticeship courses, and this number is likely to be increased in the near future.