§ Mr. Harold Walkerasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will arrange that young persons employed on youth opportunities programmes are admitted into the national insurance scheme and are eligible for benefits under the scheme.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonThere are no plans to change the status of young people participating in youth opportunities programme schemes, who are trainees, not employees. As trainees, they do not contribute to the national insurance fund. If any national insurance benefit is claimed after leaving the youth opportunities programme, special credits may be available to enable ex-trainees to satisfy the contribution conditions for such benefit.