§ 11. Mr. Roger Kingasked the Secretary of State for Employment what improvements he proposes to introduce into the youth training scheme to make it more relevant to today's training needs.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonWe shall continue our efforts to ensure the youth training scheme provides quality training and responds flexibly to industry's needs.
§ Mr. KingDoes my hon. Friend appreciate that many Conservative Members would welcome a youth training scheme which was extended to all school leavers and was based on an increasing use of apprenticeships?
§ Mr. MorrisonMy hon. Friend will appreciate that we are considering that now. I agree that there should be a flow through from the scheme into apprenticeships based on standards and not on time-serving.
§ Mr. PenhaligonDoes the Minister agree that if the YTS is to develop into the fully grown plant, as Conservative Members frequently describe it, it must be seen to be attractive and relevant to our young people, and not as a punishment for failing to find a job, which will happen if attendance is made compulsory?
§ Mr. MorrisonI agree with the hon. Gentleman. I have seen schemes in his constituency which are attractive and relevant. In my opinion Cornwall does particularly well. Regarding his other point, he has already heard what I have to say.
§ Mr. AlexanderDoes my hon. Friend recollect that in the early days the YTS was ridiculed by Opposition Members and others as being useless for providing future jobs for young people? Does he agree that the record of the YTS has totally vindicated the claims made for it?
§ Mr. MorrisonI agree with my hon. Friend in all but one respect. I regret that some Opposition Members still try to ridicule the scheme. That does no good to the youngsters who are not part of it. It must be better to have a scheme of work experience than to have none.
§ Ms. Clare ShortWhy, if the YTS is so popular, is the Minister proposing to make it compulsory? Will he admit that the real reason is that he wants to reduce the minimum level of supplementary benefit above which the YTS allowance operates, so that the allowance can be reduced to a level even lower than the present one?
§ Mr. MorrisonI do not know why the hon. Lady uses the word "compulsory". I have always maintained, and will maintain, that the YTS is voluntary.
§ Mr. NichollsDoes my hon. Friend accept that the proposal that school leavers who do not wish to take a place on the YTS should not be entitled to supplementary benefit is welcome to many Conservative Members? Is it not remarkable that Opposition Members would far rather that a youngster started his working life on the dole than have a scheme of training that would equip him for a working life?
§ Mr. MorrisonIt is remarkable that Opposition Members believe that it is better for youngsters to go on the dole when they have the opportunity to go on a training scheme.
§ Mr. SheermanIs it not true that what youngsters want most are jobs? They want a decent start in life. Will the Minister stop being mealy-mouthed and fudging this issue? Does he believe that supplementary benefit should be withdrawn from those who choose not to go on youth training schemes? Is that Government policy? Does he realise that at the stage when the youth training scheme could begin to become a much better quality scheme it will be undermind completely by those proposals? Finally, does he understand that he will place a stigma on youth training from which it will never recover?
§ Mr. MorrisonThe hon. Gentleman heard what I said about supplementary benefit. He must accept that relevant training is necessary to find jobs. That is precisely what the youngsters on YTS received last year, and are getting this year.