HC Deb 24 April 1969 vol 782 cc643-4
26. Mr. Charles Morrison

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has for in-service training facilities for full-time youth service personnel.

Mr. Denis Howell

The training of full-time youth workers must be looked at as a whole and the starting point is initial training. The Department, in association with the Youth Service Development Council, is at present replanning the provision for initial training and an announcement will be made as soon as possible. This will provide a basis for considering the need for in-service training, the importance of which I recognise.

Mr. Morrison

Will there be anything on this subject in the Report of the Youth Service Development Council which will be published soon, following the work of the Milson and Fairbairn Committees?

Mr. Howell

Yes, the Youth Service Development Council Report on the whole future of the service has a great deal to say about basic training and subsequent in-service training.

Mr. R. C. Mitchell

Is my hon. Friend aware that some Conservative-controlled local authorities, including my own, have made such drastic cuts in the youth service budget for the forthcoming year as to seriously damage the whole fabric of the youth service and that there will be no one to train if we go on like this?

Mr. Howell

I regret that very much. I said in a recent Adjournment debate that the amount of resources additionally reallocated this year for the youth service and adult education was considerably above the 3½ per cent. for education as a whole.