HC Deb 08 May 1958 vol 587 cc118-9W
82. Mr. McKay

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will make a statement on the special aptitudes scheme, under which boys who seek an apprenticeship away from their own towns because of inability to get suitable training locally, and whose parents are not able to support them financially, can get assistance for lodgings and for three trips home each year; what is the amount of income below which parents are entitled to such grants for their children; and to what extent this scheme applies throughout the country.

Mr. Iain Macleod

Under the scheme which is now known as the Training Allowances Scheme, parents whose income after a deduction of £150 for each other dependent child exceeds £475 are required to contribute towards the cost of the grant on a sliding scale. The scheme is open to young persons in all parts of Great Britain.

83 and 84. Mr. McKay

asked the Minister of Labour (1) why this year instructions have been circulated from the Central Youth Employment Executive to the Youth Employment Bureaux informing them that, from 1st April, 1958, grants will only be considered for boys who obtain their jobs through the Bureaux;

(2) whether he is aware that his latest decision not to give grants to boys who have not made use of the facilities offered by the Youth Employment Bureaux adversely affects those boys who wish to enter into apprenticeships for special training away from their home towns and seek such training by their own individual efforts; and whether he will reconsider this decision.

Mr. Iain Macleod

The condition was introduced as part of a revised set of rules which provide that in the future an applicant from another area can be considered for assistance under the scheme even though local boys and girls are available. It is designed to ensure that an employer considers both local young people and applicants from other areas before deciding whom to engage. It is open to an applicant to suggest to the Youth Employment Service where an opening can be found.

The scheme has been carefully devised in consultation with the National Youth Employment Council, and I believe the changes recently made are well adjusted to the present situation.