HC Deb 25 March 1977 vol 928 cc723-4W
Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many of last year's school leavers are still unemployed in (a) Kirkby and (b) Ormskirk; what steps are being taken to find them jobs; and when he expects them to find employment.

Mr. Golding

On 10th March 1977 the number of unemployed school leavers in Kirkby was 350, and in Ormskirk was eight, but the statistics do not identify the date on which they left school. Officers of the careers service are doing all they can to assist these young people, and the full range of the Government's special measures to alleviate unemployment will continue to be made available on Merseyside as elsewhere.

Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will take steps to set up a skillcentre in Ormskirk.

Mr. Golding

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the Training Services Agency has no plans at the present time to establish a skill-centre in Ormskirk. The Agency has recently undertaken a review of the training facilities in the area and is satisfied that the training needs can be met by the existing skillcentres located at Aintree, St. Helens and Kirkby. Plans are well advanced to establish a new centre in Preston and this will also help to meet the needs of the Ormskirk area.