§ Mr. Ray Powellasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will carry out a review of the youth opportunities programme scheme with a view to ensuring that no exploitation of young people is taking place; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonI am satisfied that the Manpower Services Commission is fully aware of the need to ensure244W that sponsors of schemes within the youth opportunities programme do not take young people on in the place of full-time employees. I am satisfied that the commission monitors the programme closely to ensure that there is no exploitation of young trainees.
§ Mr. Dykesasked the Secretary of State for Employment what effects he expects his expansion of the youth opportunities programme to have on youth unemployment in the London borough of Harrow.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonAs my right hon. Friend announced in the House on 21 November last year, the expansion of the youth opportunities programme will provide some 440,000 young people with an opportunity in 1981–82—about 17,000 of these in London. It is not yet possible to say how this will affect Harrow, since plans for 1981–82 have not been finalised. However, I am assured by the Manpower Services Commission that it will give priority to unemployed school leavers and will seek to offer them a place in the programme by Christmas 1981. The commission will also try to offer a suitable opportunity within three months to other 16 and 17-year-olds who have been registered as unemployed for three months.