§ Mrs. MahonTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many 16 to 17-year-olds have lost benefit following the eight-week period allowed, as a result of refusing or not being found places on training schemes(a) in England and Wales and (b) in Halifax.
§ Mr. CopeNo 16 and 17-year-olds, other than the severely disabled, single parents and other special categories were entitled to income support (formerly supplementary benefit) after 11 September. Those who applied for YTS places were paid bridging allowance which is not a social security benefit, for up to eight weeks after that to give the local authority careers office time to offer them a YTS place.
§ Mr. PendryTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people aged 16 and 17 years who left school in Tameside in the current year have(a) accepted a YTS place, (b) got a job and (c) not gained a YTS place or a job and receive no income.
§ Mr. CopeIt is estimated that about 970 16 and l7-year-olds who left school in Tameside this year have accepted a YTS place and about 720 have got a job. Information on the number who have not gained a YTS place or a job and receive no income is not available. The parents of most of these young people who left school this summer who have not found a job and who have applied for a YTS place but have not yet been placed are receiving child benefit.