HC Deb 18 December 1985 vol 89 cc186-7W
Mr. Kirkwood

asked the Paymaster General which youth training schemes Ministers in his Department have visited for each year since the inception of the youth training scheme; and which they so far have plans to visit for the coming year.

Mr. Trippier

Ministers in this Department have visited a large number of youth training schemes since it commenced in April 1983 and I and my ministerial colleagues intend to continue to pay regular visits to schemes throughout Great Britain. Last week, for example, I visited two schemes in the Merseyside area, and early next year my right hon. and learned Friend will be officially opening the Longbridge ITeC.

Mr. Kirkwood

asked the Paymaster General what level of monetary contribution he expects employers to make towards the funding of the new two-year youth training scheme, in total and per employer; how he intends to encourage them to contribute; and whether any of these funds will be directed towards non-employer-based schemes.

Mr. Trippier

The difference between Government funding for places under the two-year youth training scheme and the actual costs involved will be made up by training providers, as happens at present with mode A places. As these costs will vary from case to case, it is not certain how much employers will have to contribute, but generally they will have to put more into the two-year scheme than they do into the present one. It will be open to non-employer based schemes to seek contributions from their work experience providers and we expect many will do so.

Mr. Kirkwood

asked the Paymaster General what account he has taken of the quality of individual youth training schemes already existing in deciding overall funding levels and target numbers of employer-based and premium places for the new two-year youth training scheme.

Mr. Trippier

The two-year youth training scheme has been designed to provide quality training for young people with differing needs and in different parts of the country. In doing this we have taken the experience of the present scheme, including the quality of provision both at the individual scheme level and overall, fully into account.

Mr. Kirkwood

asked the Paymaster General what are the latest figures for the percentage of trainees leaving the youth training scheme to enter employment; and how many of those trainees are still employed one month after starting work.

Mr. Trippier

The results from the Manpower Services Commission's regular survey of young people leaving the youth training scheme are placed in the Library. The survey does not provide information in the precise form requested. However, the latest set of results, covering young people who left the scheme between 1 April and 30 June 1985, shows that 60 per cent. went straight into work on leaving and 89 per cent. of these were still in work some three months later. Overall, 61 per cent. of leavers were in work some three months after leaving the scheme.