§ Mr. Miscampbellasked the Secretary of State for Employment what further steps he is taking to improve employment prospects for school leavers in the Fylde and Blackpool area.
§ Mr. GoldingA wide range of special measures to assist unemployed young people is in operation in the Fylde and Blackpool area. The Manpower Services Commission has approved six job creation projects on which 37 young people are employed and under the work experience programme nine schemes have been approved with 27 young people participating. Under the youth employment subsidy scheme applications for the employment of three young people have so far been dealt with. As part of the Government's measures for the strengthening of the careers service one additional careers officer has been appointed to the Blackpool careers office.
The expansion of training facilities in the area include the provision by the Training Services Agency of nine short industrial courses and one occupational selection course. These will continue on a 12-weekly cycle until mid-1977. Thirty-two young people have been recruited for first year apprenticeship training under industrial training board award schemes and many more have obtained apprenticeship or other training with employers with the assistance of premium training grants paid by ITBs.
The adequacy of these measures in the Fylde and Blackpool area, as elsewhere. is kept constantly under review.