§ Mr. Ron Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many school leavers there are without employment in Carlisle and Cumbria, respectively; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Jim Lester[pursuant to his reply, 30 June 1980, c. 379]: At 12 June, the provisional numbers of school leavers under 18 years of age registered as unemployed in the Carlisle employment office area and in the county of Cumbria were 643 and 2,421, respectively.
I recognise the seriousness of the situation. That is why the Government have agreed to a proposal from the Manpower Services Commission to expand the youth opportunities programme by 50,000 places (25 per cent.) in 1980–81 in all parts of the country. The youth opportunities programme is playing a significant role in helping unemployed school leavers and the Government will continue the programme while the need exists.