§ 3. Mr. EvennettTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are currently participating in YTS in Greater London.
§ The Minister of State, Department of Employment (Mr. Tim Eggar)The latest available figures show that there were 21,500 young people participating in YTS in Greater London.
§ Mr. EvennettI thank my hon. Friend for his reply. What proportion of YTS completers in London go on to full-time employment? Does my hon. Friend agree that YTS provides valuable training for young people?
§ Mr. EggarI certainly agree with my hon. Friend. YTS provides extremely valuable training. Some 90 per cent. of all YTS completers in London go on to full-time employment and no fewer than 98 per cent. of all trainees entering the Bexley youth training group in my hon. Friend's constituency have found full-time employment.
§ Mr. ClellandHow many youngsters suffer from accidents during their training? Will the Minister confirm that the number of accidents among YTS trainees has risen in the past few years and that as many as seven are killed and 500 injured every year under that scheme?
§ Mr. EggarIt is true that the number of accidents among YTS employees has risen, but that is because the number of youngsters on YTS has risen significantly. It is clear that young people on YTS are at least as safe, if not more so, as young people in employment generally.