§ Mr. Shepherdasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his latest estimate of the number of school leavers entering employment for the first time in the summer of 1978.
§ Mr. GoldingIt is not possible to give a figure yet. This depends on the degree to which employers give young people a chance to work.
§ Mr. Tim Rentonasked the Secretary of State for Employment what new measures he proposes to introduce to help the current year's school leavers who are unable to find jobs.
§ Mr. GoldingThe new youth opportunities programme, the special training measures for 1978–79, which my right hon. Friend announced on 15th March, and the existing provision for community industry will, altogether, make it possible to provide more than 230,000 places a year in training, work experience and temporary employment for young people in the 16 to 18 age group who would otherwise have been unemployed. It is the Government's firm intention that no Easter or summer school leaver who is 161W still unemployed the following Easter should be without the offer of a place in these programmes. We shall continue to keep the development of these programmes under close review in the light of changes in the employment situation for young people. In addition, an interdepartmental review body has been set up to consider the adequacy of the staffing of the careers service in connection with the youth opportunities programme and, in the light of the review body's recommendations, I hope to be able to make an announcement in the near future.