§ Mr. Peter Bottomleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will detail the Government measures introduced to occupy unemployed school leavers whilst they are loking for work; and if he is proposing any further measures to help young people in cities.
§ Mr. GoldingSince 1975 the Government and the Manpower Services Commission have strengthened the careers service, extended community industry, provided training places and otherwise provided assistance to unemployed young people through the job creation programme, the work experience programme, the recruitment subsidy for school leavers, and the youth employment subsidy.
The Manpower Services Commission is to operate a new youth opportunities programme for unemployed young people 176W on the lines proposed in the report "Young People and Work". This will offer within an integrated framework a combination of training and work experience which can be adapted to the individual needs of young people aged 16 to 18. The aim is to improve their prospects of obtaining satisfactory permanent jobs.
It is our firm intention that no summer or Easter school leaver who remains unemployed the following Easter will be without the offer of a place. I have asked the MSC to have the programme fully operational by September 1978.
Inner city areas will benefit under this programme because of its concentration on those in greatest need. In addition, the new initiatives taking place under the Urban Programme should help unemployed young people in the inner cities.
§ 15. Mr. Anthony Grantasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will detail the Government measures introduced to occupy unemployed school leavers whilst they are looking for work; and if he is proposing any further measures to help young people in cities.
§ 16. Mr. Steenasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will detail the Government measures introduced to occupy unemployed school leavers whilst they are looking for work; and if he is proposing any further measures to help young people in cities.
§ 20. Mr. Ioan Evansasked the Secretary of State for Employment what action he intends to take to implement the proposals in the Holland Report on youth employment to assist unemployed school leavers.
§ Mr. GoldingI would like to refer the hon. Members back to the reply my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Members for Reading, North (Mr. Durant) and Newcastle upon Tyne, North (Sir W. Elliott).