§ Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Employment what study his Department has made of the Youthways scheme for training young unemployed, operated by the Northern Ireland Department of Education; and what comparable schemes exist in Great Britain.
§ Mr. Jim LesterI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission, who is responsible for the Youth Opportunities Programme (YOP) for unemployed young people, that no formal study has been made of the Youthways scheme operated in Northern Ireland. However, many of the work experience schemes and work preparation courses provided under the YOP have the same basic objectives as the Youthways scheme and have a similar structure and content.