§ Mr. Alexanderasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to increase the range of training opportunities at present available to school leavers, in both manual and non-manual skills.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonYes. there are plans to increase the quality and quantity of training made available to participants on the youth opportunities programme. The Government have made available increased resources for the unified vocational preparation programme for school leavers entering employment which will enable provision to rise from the current 3,500 places to 20,000 by 1983–84. The Government are considering whether increased resources should be made available for the youth opportunities programme and for apprentice training in the current year.
§ Mr. Alexanderasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the training opportunities available to school leavers aged between 16 339W and 18 years of age in other European Economic Community countries and the numbers taking advantage of them, compared to those available to those leaving school in the United Kingdom.
Percentages of school-leavers engaged in different activities on leaving school. Country Year Full-time general education Full-time vocational education Apprenticeship Belgium 1977 55 36 4 Denmark 1976 23 13 30 West Germany 1979 21 19 50 France 1978 27 40 14 Ireland 1977 56 10 5 Italy 1977 20 50 4 Luxembourg 1977 31 31 23 Netherlands 1976 35 29 9 Great Britain 1977 32 10 14 Information on the numbers undergoing part-time education and training other than apprenticeship, and on the numbers of young people undertaking training is not available.
Source: 'Outlook on Training'. Manpower Services Commission July 1980.