§ 3.28 p.m.
§ Lord CARR of HADLEYMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
The Question was as follows: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many work experience places have been offered by Government Departments under the Youth Opportunities Programme.
§ The LORD PRIVY SEAL (Lord Peart)My Lords, about 200 posts have been designated for work experience schemes, but I am far from satisfied with the progress that has been made in introducing work experience places in Government Departments under the Youth Opportunities Programme. There has been an increase in the number of places available since last December. Most of the Civil Service unions are co-operating fully, and I appreciate this, but the Civil and Public Services Association has up till 1659 now opposed the introduction of the scheme. I am hopeful that the CPSA will change its policy at its 1979 annual conference.
§ Lord CARR of HADLEYMy Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord for that reply, but does he agree that the number he mentioned is seriously low? Does he recollect that Ministers themselves, I think, guaranteed every 1978 school-leaver a place within the Youth Opportunities Programme before Easter this year? Private employers have done well in this respect, and it is distressing to see Government Departments and the public service unable not only to give an example, but apparently even to follow it.
§ Lord PEARTMy Lords, as I said, I am not satisfied with the progress, and I agree with the noble Lord. I believe that his Question will help me to try to get one union—which now promises to raise the matter at its annual conference—to accept this worthy scheme.
§ Lord AVEBURYMy Lords, can the noble Lord say whether it is the Government's policy to keep records of the ethnic origins of the young people who are assisted under the Youth Opportunities Programme? If it is not, how will the Government be able to monitor the performance of Government Departments in complying with the Government's own policy of promoting equality of opportunity?
§ Lord PEARTMy Lords, I do not think that that point has any relevance to the Question.
§ Baroness EMMET of AMBERLEYMy Lords, can the noble Lord say what has been the cost per head in relation to the young people who have got these jobs?
§ Lord PEARTNo, my Lords, I cannot. I shall try to get the figure and write to the noble Baroness.
§ Lord TAYLOR of BLACKBURNMy Lords, may I ask my noble friend about the position regarding Task Force North? I am grateful for the grants that have been given, and I wonder whether they will be continued during the next two years.
§ Lord PEARTMy Lords, I will write to my noble friend about Task Force North. I am not sure.
§ Lord GISBOROUGHMy Lords, will the noble Lord take into account the terrific success of this scheme, and how much good it has done to many young people who have turned themselves from being totally unemployable to being thoroughly useful young chaps?
§ Lord PEARTMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for his comments; but I think we should bear in mind that we could still improve upon it.