HC Deb 20 December 1983 vol 51 cc263-4
11. Mr. Watson

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will introduce legislation on the lines suggested by the Thompson report on youth and community services.

Mr. Brooke

This recommendation is under consideration and the Government's decision will be announced as soon as possible.

Mr. Watson

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that reply. Will he be slightly more specific about the date of the announcement? It is over 20 years since people first started talking about a statutory basis for the youth service and there has been no progress since then.

Mr. Brooke

As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State said in a written answer on 1 November, we are currently examining relevant material in the recently completed report on the National Youth Bureau, which has a bearing on, for example, the recommendation in the review group's report on the youth service for a national advisory council. My hope and expectation is that our response to the review group's recommendations in total will be announced well before Easter.

Mr. Campbell-Savours

Is the Minister aware that youth clubs throughout the United Kingdom operate in difficult financial circumstances, suffer great hardship and have to survive from week to week? Does he accept that he has a duty to the country and to young people nationally to ensure that enough moneys are made available to secure the future of the clubs, especially as they ensure that many young people are taken off the streets, where they could engage in anti-social activities?

Mr. Brooke

I am happy to pay tribute to the youth service throughout the country. Total expenditure on the youth service amounted to about £93 million in 1981–82. The Government's plans for local authority expenditure in 1984–85 should enable the great majority of local education authorities in aggregate to maintain the 1981–82 level of provision provided that costs, especially pay, are contained and resources are managed effectively.