asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many young persons in the mid-Northumberland local employment area, who have left school in the last 12 months, have not been placed in employment; what are the estimated opportunities for young persons leaving school at the mid-summer term 1975 in this area; and if he will make a statement.

The precise information is not readily available since statistics of unemployed school leavers do not define the date of leaving school. At the latest—June 1975—statistical count the number of school leavers registered as unemployed was 127. Of these it is estimated that about 50 were Easter 1975 leavers and most of the remainder early summer term leavers.The immediate indications for the employment prospects of summer leavers are not too promising but the process of settling them into employment normally extends over the period July to November. The careers service provided by local education authorities will give school leavers all possible help in finding employment.The Manpower Services Commission is also giving urgent consideration to possible ways of improving employment and training opportunities for young people and on 2nd July announced a scheme to assist school leavers, sandwich course students, and redundant apprentices. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has allocated £50 million to the commission for use over the next two years in developing employment and training programmes, including those designed to help young people.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the numbers of school leavers unemployed in each London borough.

The following table shows the number of unemployed school-leavers, aged under 18, registered at each careers office in Greater London on 9th June 1975.