HC Deb 23 October 1975 vol 898 cc259-61W
Mr. D. E. Thomas

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the total numbers of 1975 school leavers who are unemployed in Great Britain, Wales, Scotland and the English regions, respectively; and what percentage this represents of all school leavers in each country and region.

Mr. John Fraser

The numbers of school leavers under the age of 18 registered as unemployed in October 1975 were:

Great Britain 65,292
Wales 5,193
Scotland 5,454
English Regions
South East/East Anglia 12,861
South West 4,385
Midlands (East and West) 12,329
Yorks and Humberside 6,631
North West 11,376
North 7,063

Note. Statistics of unemployed school leavers do not define the date of leaving, but the great majority of those registered left school in 1975.

The precise numbers of young people who left school for employment during the 1974–75 school year are not yet known, and the following further information is based on estimates for England and Wales combined, and for Scotland.

leavers to vacancies in Great Britain, Wales, Scotland and in each English region.

Mr. Booth

Vacancy statistics do not identify jobs for school leavers and thus it is not possible to calculate the ratios requested. The following table shows the numbers of unemployed school leavers, aged under 18, and the numbers of notified unfilled vacancies at careers offices. The vacancy figures relate only to notified vacancies and are not a measure of total vacancies. Job vacancies at careers offices are mainly for boys and girls aged under 18 but include some suitable for persons aged 18 and over.