HC Deb 18 December 1984 vol 70 cc143-4
4. Mr. Amess

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest figures for the numbers of people entering the youth training scheme and finding a job immediately in the Manpower Services Commission area serving Basildon; and how these figures compare (a) with the national figures and (b) with the local and national figures one year ago.

Mr. Peter Morrison

An informal survey of managing agents and sponsors in Essex shows that, to the best of their knowledge, more than seven out of 10 youngsters leaving the youth training scheme are going into jobs. A recent national sample survey indicated that almost six out of 10 leavers were in work at the time of the survey.

Mr. Amess

Is my hon. Friend aware that the success rate in Basildon is even higher, and is he encouraged by that fact? Does he agree that the youth training scheme offers excellent training and every prospect of a permanent job at the end of a placement?

Mr. Morrison

I agree that Basildon has done particularly well and that, whatever Opposition Members may think, the youth training scheme is successful in every possible way. That success is demonstrated particularly clearly by the fact that the youngsters themselves approve of and like it.

Mr. Madden

Will the Minister assure the young people of Basildon, Bradford, and many other places, that he has no proposal to deny them supplementary benefit if, for whatever reason, they refuse a youth training scheme place?

Mr. Morrison

As the hon. Gentleman will be aware, I have seen some of the schemes in Bradford, and they too, are very successful.

In June 1982 my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry — then Secretary of State for Employment — in a statement about supplementary benefit, said: We have therefore decided that withdrawal of supplementary benefit will not take place in September 1983 and that there will be a further review after a year's operation of the scheme."—[Official Report, 21 June 1982; Vol. 26, c. 23.]

Mr. Prescott

Can the Minister confirm that youngsters aged 16 will face a fine of £17.30 a week if they refuse a place on the youth training scheme? Many young people, who see the scheme as cheap labour, prefer to take the advice to get on their bikes and look for jobs. Should not the Minister consider the advice of the Select Committee to use whatever spare places are available to provide such opportunities for the 1 million young people under the age of 25? Is it not strange that a Government who believe in freedom of choice should be recruiting young people into forced labour schemes?

Mr. Morrison

I can confirm that, apparantly unlike the hon. Gentleman and his right hon. and hon. Friends, the Government are working towards unemployment for 16 and 17-year-olds not being an option. I can also confirm that, for 18 to 24-year-olds, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced that of the 130,000 community programme places, 50,000 would have training. More than half of the places on the community programme are occupied by 18 to 24-year-olds.