§ 35. Mrs. Virginia Bottomleyasked the Paymaster General how many young people are currently participating in the youth training schemes; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. TrippierAt 31 October, the latest date for which figures are available, 352,381 young people were in training on YTS in Great Britain. I am satisfied with the development of two-year YTS, and am confident that the YTS undertaking will be effectively met once again, as it has been in the previous three years.
§ 49. Mr. Wigleyasked the Paymaster General what proportion of young people who have been engaged on youth training schemes have subsequently found full-time employment in each of the years since the scheme's inception.
§ Mr. TrippierDirect comparison between each of the three years of the operation of one year YTS is not appropriate. The results of the postal surveys conducted by the Manpower Services Commission are influenced by changes in the survey methodology. For example, an analysis of the relatively high proportion (6 per cent.) of 1985–86 leavers who said that they were "doing something else" has shown that the figures understate the true proportion of leavers in full-time work by about 2 per cent. 167W to 3 per cent. In addition the results for 1983–84 leavers cannot be treated as typical due to the very high incidence of early leavers. With these qualifications, the information requested is set out below:
April 1983 and March 1984 (ad hoc surveys) April 1984 and March 1985 (15 per cent. sample survey) April 1985 and March 1986 (100 per cent. survey) Percentage of leavers in full-time employment 49 55 53 Number of questionnaires issued 2,715 64,845 379,648 Usable response (percentage) 55 64 58 Percentage of respondents who were early leavers 90 55 48
§ 59. Mr. Patrick Thompsonasked the Paymaster General if he will give up to date figures for the proportion of YTS trainees who find a job in the United Kingdom and in the Norwich area.
§ Mr. TrippierThe Manpower Services Commission conducts regular postal surveys of young people leaving YTS schemes. The latest surveys covering those who left YTS schemes between 1 April and 31 May 1986, show that in Great Britain 64 per cent. were in work some three months after leaving, and in the Norwich local authority district 75 per cent. were in work.
§ 60. Mr. Roy Hughesasked the Paymaster General what proportion of young people leaving YTS obtain jobs in the best and worst regions of the country.
§ Mr. TrippierThe Manpower Services Commission conducts regular surveys of young people leaving YTS schemes. Results from these surveys (including data for regions) are placed in the Library of the House each month. I refer the hon. Member to these documents.
§ 64. Mr. Hunterasked the Paymaster General if he is satisfied with the working of the YTS in Hampshire; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. TrippierI am satisfied with the development of the two year YTS in the area and the Manpower Services Commission is making moves to encourage more firms to recruit young people onto YTS with employee status. I am also confident that the YTS undertaking will be effectively met once again, as it has been in the previous three years.
§ 70. Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Paymaster General how many people accepted on to YTS courses in 1985 or 1986 had five or more O-levels.
§ Mr. TrippierInformation is not available in the form requested. The Manpower Services Commission's regular surveys of YTS leavers show that, of those who left between April 1985 and March 1986, 14 per cent. had at least three GCE O-levels or equivalent when they joined the scheme.
§ 85. Mr. Robert B. Jonesasked the Paymaster General what percentage of YTS leavers in the Hertfordshire, West constituency obtained work, in the latest period available.
§ Mr. TrippierThe Manpower Services Commission's regular surveys of YTS leavers show that in Dacorum, the closest equivalent area to the Hertfordshire, West168W constituency for which figures are available, 72 per cent. of leavers between 1 April and 31 May 1986 were in work some three months later.