§ 30. Mr. Aitkenasked the Secretary of State for Employment what further steps he plans to take to reduce the level of unemployment among school leavers; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GoldingThe new youth opportunities programme, which came into operation at the beginning of April, 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 16–18 age group who would otherwise have been unemployed.
It is the Government's firm intention that no Easter or summer school leaver 67W who remains 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 unemployment situation for young people.