HC Deb 21 January 1986 vol 90 cc119-21W
43. Mr. Kirkwood

asked the Paymaster General if he will make a statement on the preparations being made to introduce the new two-year youth training scheme.

Mr. Trippier

My ministerial colleagues and I are satisfied with the progress that has been made on the establishment of the new two-year youth training scheme. All the main funding and administrative elements of the new scheme have been decided, and negotiations with potential training providers are going well. Plans for publicising the new scheme are also well under way.

48. Mr. Pike

asked the Paymaster General if he will make a further statement on the funding arrangements for the two-year youth training scheme.

Mr. Trippier

The Government have approved the Manpower Services Commission's recommendations that the funding arrangements for the new two-year youth training scheme should feature not only basic grants, premium payments and annual management fees, but also permanent additional funding for specialist training for young disabled people and extra funds for equipment and adaptations to premises for disabled trainees. Agreement has also been reached about the future funding of information technology centres and on the transitional payments to current mode B1 providers.

50. Mr. Lawler

asked the Paymaster General what were the destinations of those trainees who left the youth training scheme in June.

Mr. Trippier

The Manpower Services Commission's regular follow-up survey of young people leaving the youth training scheme shows that, of those who left in June 1985, 63 per cent. were in work, 3 per cent. were on a full-time course at a college/training centre, 3 per cent. were on another YTS scheme, 7 per cent. were doing something else and 24 per cent. were unemployed, some three months later. Results from the survey are placed in the Library.

56. Mr. Bruce

asked the Paymaster General what percentage of youth training scheme trainees secured a job within six months of leaving the scheme for the latest date for which figures are available.

Mr. Trippier

Information is not available in the precise form requested. However, the most recent results from the Manpower Services Commission's regular follow-up survey of young people leaving the youth training scheme show that, of those who left between 1 April 1985 and 31 July 1985, 61 per cent. were in work some three months later.

67. Mr. Terry Lewis

asked the Paymaster General if he will make a statement on mode B youth training schemes.

Mr. Trippier

Mode B of the present youth training scheme provides funding, on a cost-recovery basis, for programmes for unemployed young people based mainly in training workshops and information technology centres and on community projects. Under the new two-year scheme, which will have a single system of funding and administration, there will be extra premium payments and transitional funding for the next two years to current mode B1 providers who remain in the scheme, so that they can continue to offer training programmes in areas where there is a shortage of employer-based provision and to young people with special needs.

69. Mr. Sheerman

asked the Paymaster General when he will next meet the chairman of the Manpower Services Commission to discuss the youth training scheme.

Mr. Trippier

I frequently discuss the progress and development of the youth training scheme with the chairman of the Manpower Services Commission.

70. Mr. Hunter

asked the Paymaster General how many unfilled youth training scheme places there are in Hampshire.

Mr. Trippier

I regret the information is not available in the precise form requested. However, at the end of November 1985 some 8,863 places had been approved while there were 6,695 young people in training. It is not possible to give a precise figure of unfilled places because not all approved places will actually be available for occupation.

76. Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

asked the Paymaster General how many youngsters will be able to participate in the youth training scheme each year after April 1986.

Mr. Trippier

We estimate that around 360,000 young people will enter the youth training scheme in 1986–87 and a similar number in 1987–88. It is too early to make forecasts for subsequent years.