§ 20. Mr. Tim Smithasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people who left school in 1977 were still unemployed at the latest available date.
§ Mr. BoothOn 12th January, 57,424 school leavers under 18 were registered as unemployed in Great Britain. The statistics do not distinguish between the different dates of leaving school, but it is estimated that at least 7,000 were young people who left school in Scotland in December 1977 and that the88W majority of the remainder left school in the summer of 1977.
§ 34. Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his estimate of the number of school leavers who will be seeking jobs for the first time at Easter 1978.
§ Mr. GoldingThe current estimate is that 71,000 young people will leave school in England and Wales at Easter this year to seek employment. In Scotland, where different school-leaving regulations apply, it is estimated that about 18,000 young people who left school in December 1977 now want employment.
§ 37. Mr. Christopher Priceasked the Secretary of State for Employment by what date he expects to be able to offer to every young person leaving school who is unable to find a job, an opportunity guarantee of training, education or work experience.
§ Mr. GoldingThe Government have made clear their firm intention that no summer or Easter school leavers who remain unemployed the following Easter will be without the offer of a place on the youth opportunities programme. We have undertaken to ensure that the necessary resources for the purpose are made available to the Manpower Services Commission, which is operating the programme. The Commission will ensure that enough places are provided by Easter 1979 to meet the needs of 1978 school leavers who are still unemployed.