§ 34. Mr. LoydenTo ask the Secretary of State for education and Employment what plans she has to introduce measures to reduce unemployment among 16 to 18-year-olds. [2104]
§ Mr. ForthThe Government will continue with policies to improve standards of education and training and create a flexible and deregulated labour market which have already delivered one of the lowest rates of youth unemployment in Europe. In particular, we shall continue to resist the imposition of policies such as the social chapter and the national minimum wage, which would destroy jobs and create youth unemployment at levels seen in France and Spain where those policies are in place and where youth unemployment stands at 29 per cent. and 39 per cent. respectively.