Jobs challenge

This is borne out by the size of the latest monthly increase in unemployment, now standing at 9.3 per cent locally, with the number of young people out of work reaching a near-record level. What happens to these teenagers, once they leave school, is just as crucial as the ability of prospective graduates to afford higher charges.

Just because students, and others, have been able to orchestrate vocal protests should not deflect political attention away from the Government's responsibility to put in place a series of policies that help all young people fulfil their potential and aspirations.

A failure to address this issue and offer, for example, greater tax incentives, on top of National Insurance "holidays" to private firms setting up businesses in those towns that are over-dependent on the public sector, will only see the coalition repeat the social failings of the Thatcher and Major governments.

Yet, while it is true that 300,000 new jobs have been created in recent months, David Cameron appeared complacent at Prime Minister's Questions yesterday when he said the Government could afford to bail out Ireland because the UK economy was "out of the danger zone".

He should try telling that to those young people across Yorkshire who are already out of work, or face the bleak prospect of unemployment when they leave school. To them, their troubles are only just beginning and the Government should be putting in place practical and pro-active measures to help this neglected section of society so these teenagers, too, can look forward to a successful future.