§ Mrs. Peacockasked the Paymaster General how many young people have completed YTS schemes in Batley and Spen and Yorkshire to date; how many left before completing their full entitlement to training; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. TrippierThe information is not available in the form requested.
By the end of March 1986, around 2,800 young people in the local authority district of Kirklees had completed YTS schemes since the scheme was introduced in 1983. The comparable figure for Yorkshire is 32,000. Over the same period, around 4,600 young people in Kirklees and 44,500 in Yorkshire, left the scheme before completing their full entitlement.
Independent research has shown that most young people who leave their schemes early are either employed or are in further education-training. Of those who completed the YTS schemes in Yorkshire and Kirklees between April 1985 and March 1986, 61 per cent. and 74 per cent. respectively were in employment three months after leaving YTS. I am very encourged by the achievements reflected in these results.