§ Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Paymaster General whether he expects the Manpower Services Commission to meet its commitment of a place on a youth training scheme for everyone who wants one by Christmas.
§ Mr. TrippierThe Government have undertaken to offer a place on the youth training scheme by Christmas to all minimum age school leavers who remain unemployed. I am confident this undertaking will be effectively met once again, as it had been in the previous two years.
§ Mr. Sheermanasked the Paymaster General if he will make a statement about the funding position of information technology centres under the two-year youth training scheme.
§ Mr. TrippierFollowing a wide ranging review of the information technology centre (ITeC) programme, agreement has now been reached on the funding arrangements that will apply to ITeCs from 1 April 1986.
These arrangements are designed to give ITeCs a much sounder basis of operation, by reducing their costs and increasing their range of activities. The funding package will enable ITeCs to play a full part in the new two-year YTS and to develop their role in the training of adults.
ITeCs have achieved a great deal in the last four years and we are determined to build on this foundation. The Government have made a real investment in ITeCs. I am looking to industry and local areas to back this with their own support.
§ Mr. Sheermanasked the Paymaster General if he will list the current, past and projected expenditure on the youth training scheme for 1984 to 1989, broken down according to trainee maintenance, training costs, and central administration.
§ Mr. TrippierInformation is not available in the form requested. Expenditure on the youth training scheme in 1984–85 and the estimate for 1985–86 can be categorised as in the following table: 55W
Allowance costs* Other grants to managing agents and sponsors† Other YTS costs (including central administration)‡ Total 1984–85 (actual) 384.0 362.6 80.4 827.0 1985–86 (estimate) 411.6 350.2 72.1 833.9 Notes:
* Includes the trainee's allowance and the cost of excess travel and lodgings.
† Includes managing agents' fees, the non-allowance element of the block grant and vacated place payments in mode A: all non-allowance costs in mode B1; and managing agents' fees and grants in mode B2.
‡ Includes the costs of YTS administration, development of YTS training techniques and residual expenditure on youth opportunities programme, unified vocational preparation and apprentice support.
The Manpower Services Commission's corporate plan 1985–89 shows planned expenditure on the scheme of £855 million and £860 million in 1986–87 and 1987–88. Additional sums of £125 million and £300 million will be made available in these years to expand the scheme from one to two years. It is not possible to provide a detailed breakdown of these figures.
§ Mr. Sheermanasked the Paymaster General if he will list for each area manpower board area the available number of mode A, mode B and mode B2 places for the years 1984, 1985 and 1986, giving the figures for premium and non-premium places where appropriate.
§ Mr. TrippierI shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.