§ Mr. George Grantasked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many school leavers in the mid-Northumberland Employment Exchange area were unemployed in each month since June 1975;
(2) what further measures are being taken by his Department to reduce the number of unemployed school leavers nationally and in the mid-Northumberland area; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John FraserThe number of school leavers registered as unemployed in the mid-Northumberland area since June 1975 were: June, 126; July, 221; August 593; September, 470; October, 220.
The main responsibility for helping school leavers to find jobs rests with the careers officers of local education authorities, who are continuing to do all they can to help those still unemployed. Despite the difficult employment situation, school leavers have been finding jobs at a rate which compares favourably with previous years and I expect that the great majority of those who left school last summer will have entered 112W employment or training by the end of the year.
Additional measures to alleviate unemployment in all areas, including a programme of job creation and a recruitment subsidy scheme were announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 24th September. It is too early to assess the full effects of these measures, but I am sure they will bring great benefit to school leavers.