HC Deb 06 December 1983 vol 50 cc152-3
10. Mr. Adley

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has detected any trends of regional imbalance in regard to the operation of the youth training scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Peter Morrison

Take-up of places on the youth training scheme has varied between regions. I am satisfied that there are now sufficient places available to meet the needs of eligible young people throughout Great Britain this year, and I am confident that the undertaking to offer a place to all unemployed 16-year-old school leavers by Christmas will be met.

Mr. Adley

In welcoming the success of the scheme in the south-west, and particularly in the Dorset and Somerset area, may I ask my hon. Friend nevertheless to confirm that in areas where the take-up has been inadequate it is open to his Department to apply to the Treasury to have funds put aside for the YTS to be made available to the community programme which, as he will have heard from my hon. friend the Member for Torridge and Devon, West (Sir P. Mills), is causing some anguish around the country? Is that correct? Has he already applied, and if not, will he consider doing so?

Mr. Morrison

No doubt my hon. Friend heard my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Torridge and Devon, West (Sir P. Mills), make clear the position on the community programme. Certainly, if there is an underspend on the youth training scheme my right hon. Friend and I will take it into account in dealing with the community programme.

Mr. Leighton

I congratulate the three Ministers who have been answering all these questions, but will the Minister of State explain why his hon. Friend the Member for Suffolk, Coastal (Mr. Gummer), has not helped them in their task?

Mr. Morrison

I am most grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his congratulations. It is not something that often happens, and it is received in the spirit in which it was given. The hon. Gentleman will know that my hon. Friend the Minister of State was sitting in Committee all morning — [Interruption] — and he will shortly be answering further questions. On the last occasion when we dealt with Employment questions he answered far more than I did.

Mr. Latham

Is my hon. Friend aware that if the underspend on the YTS is not used soon it will be taken back by the Treasury? Will he ensure that between now and the end of the financial year it is given either to 17-year-olds and 18-year-olds who are in training, or to the community programme?

Mr. Morrison

My hon. Friend will have heard both myself and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State say that there is clearly an interaction between the two programmes. As my hon. Friend will also be aware, if we were to change the eligibility rules for the youth training scheme this year we would need to have regard to the number of entrants that we expect for next year. We have to take that into account in the equation.