HC Deb 30 June 1981 vol 7 cc688-9
8. Mr. Kenneth Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether the Manpower Services Commission has now concluded its consultations with the Department of Education on the subject of providing similar advantages to young people staying in further education as those young people involved in the youth opportunities programme.

Mr. Peter Morrison

Consultations between the Manpower Services Commission and the education service have sought to improve co-operation rather than to standardise provision and are continuing to that end.

Mr. Lewis

I understand that those consultations have been going on for some time. Is my hon. Friend aware that in a few years there will be many places available in colleges of further education and polytechnics? Would it not be sensible to fit young people who wish to opt for further education rather than for job opportunities into those colleges and polytechnics? Instead of cutting back, we could kill two birds with one stone.

Mr. Morrison

I am aware that consultations have been going on, and it is right that they should continue. I am sure that my hon. Friend is aware that in 1981–82 just over 45,000 young people are expected to enter the work preparation courses run by the education service.

Mr. Robert C. Brown

Does the Minister agree that in regions, such as the Northern region, which are already extremely deprived in terms of employment opportunities for youngsters there is a strong case for examining the possibility of encouraging youngsters to stay on at school by making finance available for them to do so? Would it not be wise, in the same context, for his right hon. Friend to consult his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services, who has gone in for the nonsensical idea of depriving young people of unemployment benefit to force them to leave school at Easter rather than to take examinations?

Mr. Morrison

I am, of course, aware that regions, such as the Northern region, have greater problems than other parts of the country. I accept that the problems should be examined and solved in terms of asking the young people concerned to stay on at school or to take training courses at colleges of further education.

Mr. Madel

As there is to be a greater training content in the youth opportunities programme, will my hon. Friend encourage the Manpower Services Commission to look to local education authorities for help in supplying qualified instructors on these courses?

Mr. Morrison

My hon. Friend underlines the importance of a strong link between the education service, local education authorities and the Manpower Services Commission in respect of the youth opportunities programme, particularly as the training part of the programme increases.

Mr. Hooky

Does the Minister agree that it would be absurd to have a financial disincentive to boys and girls who wish to pursue sensible further training in the further education system by reason of the complex arrangements and the variety of schemes that exist for the 16 to 19-yearolds?

Mr. Morrison

As my right hon. Friend has already stated, there is a greater emphasis on training. The hon. Gentleman referred to a financial disincentive. We have to consider whether such a disincentive exists. I do not believe that it does.