§ 3.25 p.m.
§ Earl Russell asked Her Majesty's Government:
§ In the light of their Written Answers of 27th October (Official Report, col. WA 99) and 17th November (Official Report, cols. WA 42–46), what is their evidence for believing that a guarantee of a youth training place for 16 and 17 year-olds has been met.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Employment (Viscount Ullswater)My Lords, the payment of bridging allowance to a young person is not an indication that the guarantee is not being met. The Government have continued to emphasise their commitment to the guarantee and have always made it clear that TECs will be adequately resourced.
§ Earl RussellMy Lords, I thank the noble Viscount for that reply, but it is not an awfully informative one. We know, for he has often told us so, that he believes the guarantee is working. I asked him for evidence to convince us that the guarantee is working. Can he give any?
§ Viscount UllswaterMy Lords, that is rather like asking for the length of a piece of string. The Government have always made it quite clear they are totally committed to fulfilling the guarantee. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State regards 1457 meeting that guarantee as a top priority. We have made it absolutely clear to TECs that we are taking the closest interest, TEC by TEC, to ensure that that guarantee is met.
§ Lord TordoffMy Lords, are we to take it from that that the Minister is answering no, he does not have evidence?
§ Viscount UllswaterMy Lords, I think the noble Lord is perhaps taking this matter rather lightly. At the end of the summer a great number of people are deciding whether or not to take up youth training. If they suddenly decide to take up youth training but do not enter youth training the next day it is not a matter of the guarantee failing.
§ Baroness Turner of CamdenMy Lords, is the Minister aware that organisations dealing with youth, notably Youth Aid, estimate that there are 124,700 16 and 17 year-olds currently unemployed, of whom 97,300 are not receiving any benefit or payment? Is the Minister also aware that a number of TECs claim they have long waiting lists? One London TEC apparently has a waiting list of 2,600. How do the Government square those figures?
§ Viscount UllswaterMy Lords, all those who left school in the summer are entitled to extended child benefit. Therefore none of those would be included in the figures which the noble Baroness puts forward. I believe her figures are entirely exaggerated and that the number of people waiting for a YT place is very much within reason.