asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will take steps to exclude from the Employment Protection Act those in their first job as a contribution towards alleviating youth unemployment;(2) what study he has made of the link between the Employment Protection Act and inactivity in recruitment of young people by small firms; and if he will make a statement.

I have not made a special study of this point.I believe that the effect of the legislation on the employment of young people has been greatly exaggerated. A major reason is that many small firms do not yet properly understand the legislation, and I am taking steps to improve the situation. I do not believe it would be desirable for young people in their first jobs to be excluded from the protection of the legislation.