§ Mr. AshdownTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what would be the cost of providing each 16 to 19-year-old student attending higher or further education with an allowance equivalent to the pay of a youth training scheme trainee, on the assumption that there would be a 50 pe cent. take-up of places.
Mr. JacksonIf 50 per cent. of 16, 17 and 18-year-olds participated in full-time education and received an allowance equivalent to the youth training scheme allowance, the annual cost of those payments would be some £1,900 million. This figure is based on 50 per cent. of the total population of 16-year-olds in England602W receiving £28.50 per week—the youth training scheme allowance for that age—and 50 per cent. of 17 and 18-year-olds in England receiving £35 per week—I he allowance for trainees in their second year.
The figure does not discount awards currently made by LEAs to students in this age group. Nor does it take account of child benefit payments to the parents of students in full-time education up to their 19th birthday.