§ Mr. Skinnerasked the Secretary of State for Employment what consideration he has given to representations from those participating in youth opportunities programme schemes to introduce full trade union rates of pay; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. Peter MorrisonThe youth opportunities programme is a training programme and trainees receive an allowance fixed by Government and determined by collective negotiations. My right hon. Friend has received several representations that the YOP allowance be raised, and he has raised it, as he announced on 15 December 1981, to £25 a week.
§ Mr. Skinnerasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will now introduce paid holiday periods of five weeks per year for those participating in the youth opportunities programme schemes.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonThe Manpower Services Commission is currently reviewing the paid holiday entitlement of young people on the youth opportunities programme. I will write to the hon. Member with the results of that review.
§ Mr. Skinnerasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many school leavers in Derbyshire participate in the youth opportunities programme.
§ Mr. Peter Morrison:Information is not available in the exact form requested. Between 1 April and end November 1981, some 7,300 young people entered the youth opportunities programme in Derbyshire. It is estimated that some two-thirds of these were 1981 school leavers. Between 1 April 1980 and the end of March 1981 some 5,100 young people entered the Programme in Derbyshire, some two-thirds of whom are also estimated to have been school leavers.
§ Mr. Litherlandasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will co-operate with the Greater Manchester county council by identifying participants in the youth opportunities programme and the unemployed to enable the council to issue concessionary travel tickets for bus users to these people.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonI will ensure that careful consideration is given to the matter by my Department if a detailed proposal is received from Greater Manchester county council. I am sure the Manpower Services Commission would also wish to give similar consideration to any such proposal.