YTS

HC Deb 16 May 1989 vol 153 cc154-5

6. Mr. Ian Bruce

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what reduction there has been in the number of people on YTS in the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the likely future trends of YTS.

Mr. Cope

About 390,000 young people were in training on YTS in both March 1988 and March 1989. We keep the scope and role of YTS under review to ensure that training for young people continues to meet the changing needs of the economy.

Mr. Bruce

I thank my hon. Friend for that answer. I am surprised that nationally YTS numbers have not yet started to fall, although they have clearly evened out. In the south-east, and in my constituency of south Dorset the number on youth training schemes is declining as a result of demographic changes and extra jobs. As the number of people on youth training schemes declines, how can the current level of spending on training be redirected to other forms of training and to helping people to obtain a real technological education?

Mr. Cope

We believe in improving the quality of training and we are trying to achieve that. In particular, we are having a greater drive towards youth training schemes resulting in qualifications. That is all part of the greater concentration on the outcome of training schemes. At present about 63 per cent. of those who complete youth training schemes gain qualifications.

Mr. Alex Carlile

Does the hon. Gentleman agree that in Wales and some other regions there has been difficulty in finding suitable quality trainers for YTS? Will he ensure that the training and enterprise councils have sufficient funds to recruit trainers and to keep an ongoing check on the quality of training that they provide for young people?

Mr. Cope

Yes. Part of the point of the training and enterprise councils is to involve employers more so as to improve the quality of the training offered, not only on YTS but on other schemes as well.

Mr. Latham

As the construction industry training board is the managing agent for YTS in the construction industry, and as that industry's training record is abysmal, is it not clearly important that the construction industry training board should be retained?

Mr. Cope

My hon. Friend will know that we have that matter under consideration, and that it follows from what was said in the recent White Paper.

Mr. Fatchett

Given the question posed by the Minister's hon. Friend the Member for Dorset, South (Mr. Bruce) and the possible decrease in the number of YTS trainees, what measures will the Government take to ensure that 16-year-olds who find immediate employment on leaving school also find employment which guarantees training opportunities? If they do not, will there not be a danger that those youngsters will find themselves with no training, no hope and no future jobs?

Mr. Cope

The labour market for young people is changing as their numbers decrease and their bargaining power in the market increases. However, the system should remain voluntary because not all young people want to be forced into a job that guarantees particular arrangements. That thinking underlies all our policies. It is also why we intend, as I said earlier, to improve the quality of YTS training.