HC Deb 23 May 1986 vol 98 cc356-8W
Ms. Clare Short

asked the Paymaster General what research work his Department and the Manpower Services Commission have undertaken, giving references to published work, on the operation and effect of the YTS, the community programme and the young workers scheme.

Mr. Lang

The information requested is:

YOUTH TRAINING SCHEME

MSC Research

Regular follow-up of YTS Trainees to be published over the Summer as

The Youth Training Scheme—the first 3 Years

  • MSC Research and Development Series No. 34.
  • YTS Provider Survey—results published in a short note in the Employment Gazette of April 1985, p.163 and a full article in August 1985.

Ethnic Minorities and YTS

MSC Research and Development Series No. 20.

Review of the Information Technology Centre Programme

MSC Research and Development Series No. 27.

The Youth Training Schemes: A study of non-participants and early leavers

Research and Development Series No. 34, Summer 1986.

YTS Trainee Follow-Up of Non-Respondents Interview Survey

Reports made available to the House of Commons Library.

School Leavers Cohort Survey—Sheffield and Bradford Pilot

Four Publications are available from the MSC:

  1. Choices at 16; Report No. 1—Young peoples views on YTS
  2. Choices at 16; Report No. 2—Staying on
  3. Choices at 16; Report No. 3—The Gender Gap
  4. Futures in Black and White—Two studies of the experience of young people in Sheffield and Bradford.

Report on the 1984 pilot of the Scottish Young Peoples Survey

Available from MSC.

COMMUNITY PROGRAMME

MSC Research

Surveys of CP participants and ex participants, were undertaken Autumn 1983, Spring 1984 and Autumn 1984. Partial follow-up surveys of CP participants were carried out in 1984 and 1985.

Social and Community Planning Research have published one report "Survey of CP Participants 1984". (SCPR ref: 01/797).

A survey of CP sponsors was undertaken in 1984. Copies of reports on the other surveys have been made available to the House of Commons Library but not published elsewhere.

The report of an efficiency review conducted by the Cabinet Office entitled "Value for Money in the Community Programme" was published on 14 April 1986 and is available free direct from the Department. An article entitled "After the Community Programme — Results of the First Follow-Up Study" was published in the Employment Gazette in January 1985.

The MSC has also produced a report entitled Training Linked to the Community Programme outlining good practice, copies of which are available from the MSC.

YOUNG WORKERS SCHEME

DE Research

  • Young Workers Scheme Survey of Employers 1983
  • Young Workers Scheme Survey of Employers 1985
  • Young Workers Scheme Survey of Participants 1985

All three surveys were conducted for the Department by Social and Community Planning Research. A continuous postal survey of employers claiming payments was managed within the Department.

A summary of this material has been published in the Employment Gazette of May 1986 in an article entitled "Evaluation of the Young Workers Scheme".

Ms. Clare Short

asked the Paymaster General if he will show, for each year or operation of the youth opportunities scheme and the YTS, the level of the allowance payable under the schemes, both in current prices and in constant 1986 prices.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

Expressed in terms of prices in March 1986 the following shows the level of allowance each year from April 1978 until March 1986:

Allowance £ Allowance at 1986 prices £
April 1978 19.50 38.24
March 1979 20.55 37.24
March 1980 23.50 35.56
March 1981 23.50 31.58
March 1982 25.00 30.44
March 1983 25.00 29.09
March 1984 25.00 27.64
March 1985 26.25 27.36
March 1986 27.30 27.30

With the introduction of two year YTS, trainees in their second year of training will receive an enhanced allowance of £35.00. Allowance levels must reflect the fact that trainees are only learning, and YTS provices substantially, upgraded training compared with the youth opportunities programme.

Ms. Clare Short

asked the Paymaster General if he will indicate the number and proportion of workers on (a)the YTS scheme and (b)the young workers scheme, who are engaged in wages council sectors.

Mr. Lang

I regret that the information requested is not available for young people engaged on YTS.

A survey conducted by Social and Community Planning Research (SCPR) in 1985 found that 33 per cent. of those employed under support of the young workers scheme were covered by a wages council or board that set statutory minimum rates of pay. However the survey asked about "statutory" bodies but replies included many references to non-statutory bodies.

Ms. Clare Short

asked the Paymaster General if he will publish available information about the earnings of those who remain in employment following the completion of a place under the YTS or support under the young workers scheme.

Mr. Lang

The Manpower Services Commission conducts a regular follow-up survey of leavers from YTS three months after they leave their programmes. The latest results are for young people who left YTS in November 1985. The survey gives the following information on the weekly net take home pay of leavers during the period April to November 1985, who were in full-time employment at the time of the survey.

YTS leavers in the period April to November 1985
Weekly take home pay Percentage of leavers*
Up to £20 0.1
£20 to £40 24.2
£40 to £60 55.8
£60 to £80 16.3
£80 to £100 2.7
£100 and over 0.8
* In full-time employment at time of survey.

From research carried out by social and community planning research (SCPR) for my Department, those youngsters who were employed after young workers scheme support had ended, had received average increases of 30 per cent. over their pay at the time of entry. However this evidence is based on a very small sample of youngsters.

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