HC Deb 31 July 1984 vol 65 c213
10. Mr. Fayell

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of former trainees have to date found jobs after their youth training scheme.

Mr. Peter Morrison

Most youngsters who joined the scheme in its first year are still in training. Although early results are encouraging, a clear picture of what youngsters will do after they leave the scheme will not be available until later in the year.

Mr. Favell

Is my hon. Friend aware that in Stockport, which is well north of the Wash, people have worked hard to make the youth training scheme work and that, as a result, between 55 and 60 per cent. of the summer 1983 school leavers are forecast to have full-time jobs before they have even finished the scheme?

Mr. Morrison

I am delighted to hear those figures from my hon. Friend. Perhaps he would like to thank the managing agents in Stockport for all that they have put into the scheme. There are some good stories. For example, for the Clothing Industry Training Board, about 98 per cent. of the youngsters on the scheme have firm prospects of a job.

Mr. Barron

Does the Minister accept that in some areas the youth training scheme is not producing a majority of people who go into full-time work? How does the Minister feel about being a member of an Administration who are spurning nearly 50 per cent. of a generation on to the dole queues?

Mr. Morrison

I am aware that the placing rates vary from scheme to scheme. However, compared with the latter years of the youth opportunities programme, the placing rates of those coming off the youth training scheme look very encouraging.

Mrs. Rumbold

Is my hon. Friend aware that in Mitcham and Morden there are a number of employers who would willingly participate in the youth training scheme, provided the amount of paper work that the MSC requires them to do is reduced? Is anything being done to achieve that?

Mr. Morrison

I am aware of that fact. I assure my hon. Friend that only last week, in Sheffield, I made precisely the point that bureaucracy may put off potential managing agents. Certain specific matters that my hon. Friend has brought to my attention are being examined.