§ 33. Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what new initiatives he intends to take to reduce youth unemployment.
§ Mr. Alexander FletcherThe youth opportunities programme has been substantially expanded this year. In July the Government announced that additional funds would be made available to enable the Manpower Services Commission to meet its undertaking to offer all unemployed school leavers this year a suitable place on the programme by Christmas. Decisions on the programme of special employment and training measures for 1982–83, including pro vision for young unemployed peoplee, will be announced later this year.
For the longer term, the Government are giving consideration to the introduction of a comprehensive new training scheme for the young unemployed, arising from the consultations on the new training initiative consulative document published earlier this year, and I expect that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment will make an announcement about this around the turn of the year.