§ Mr. George Grantasked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the existing levels of unemployment and vacancies for young people in the mid-Northumberland area; and what arrangements are being made to provide work opportunities in time for the summer leaving date.
§ Mr. Jim LesterAt 10 April, the latest date for which an age analysis of the unemployed is available, there were 1,030 young people under 20 years of age registered as unemployed in the area covered by Alnwick, Amble, Ashington, Bedlington, Blyth, Cramlington and Morpeth employment offices. At 2 April, there were 352 notified vacancies remaining unfilled at these employment offices and 13 at corresponding careers offices. In addition to the vacancies at the careers offices, some of those held at the employment offices may be suitable for young people. The corresponding figures for 6 June were 255 at employment offices and 11 at careers offices. Vacancies notified to employment offices are estimated to be about one-third of all vacancies in the country as a whole. Because of possible duplication the figures for employment offices and careers offices should not be added together.
I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the youth opportunities programme (YOP) is designed to offer young unemployed people opportunities for training and work experience that will improve their prospects of obtaining permanent employment. At present, there are over 400 unfilled opportunities in the programme for unemployed young people in the area covered by the employment offices listed above.
The MSC area staff concerned are confident that the planned provision for this year, 1980–81, will be sufficient to meet the needs of unemployed school 161W leavers in the area. Marketing initiatives aimed at potential sponsors of YOP schemes will take place as and when necessary.
§ Mr. George Grantasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will bring forward further proposals to reduce the unemployment situation in mid-Northumberland.
§ Mr. Jim LesterI accept that unemployment in mid-Northumberland is too high. The area will continue, however, to be eligible for a range of regional assistance, despite some downgradings in assisted area status this August. Furthermore, most of our special employment measures, which are currently helping a considerable number of people in the Morpeth and Alnwick areas, will continue to be available.
Ultimately, however, the health of the economy depends upon an improvement in world trade and on the degree of co-operation between both sides of industry and commerce in raising production and bargaining responsibly over pay and conditions. Only by increasing industry's ability to compete at home and abroad and so creating a genuine demand for labour can we reduce unemployment in mid-Northumberland and elsewhere in the country.