§ Mr. Peter Bruinvelsasked the Paymaster General whether he has any information as to the number or percentage of young people who found work following the successful completion of youth training schemes in Leicester and in the east midlands; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. LeeThe latest available figures show that around 1,800 young people completed their entitlement to YTS in Leicester during the period April 1986 to September 1986 and were in work three months later; this represents around 83 per cent. of all those who completed YTS in the period. The comparable figures for the Manpower Services Commission's east midlands and eastern region are around 8,300 young people and 76 per cent. respectively.
These figures clearly demonstrate that very many young people are benefiting from the opportunities available under YTS.
§ Mr. Peter Bruinvelsasked the Paymaster General how many people are currently on youth training schemes in Leicester and in the east midlands; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LeeOn 31 March 1987 there were around 7,100 young people in training on YTS schemes in the local authority district of Leicester; the comparable figure for the Manpower Services Commission's east midlands and eastern region was around 36,200.
These figures clearly show that the young people of Leicester and the east midlands recognise that YTS offers quality training and work experience in their transition from school to work.
§ Mr. Peter Bruinvelsasked the Paymaster General how many people have completed youth training schemes in Leicester and the east midlands to date; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LeeBy the end of March 1987, the latest date for which figures are available, around 7,600 young people in the local authority district of Leicester and 69,000 in the east midlands and eastern region had completed YTS schemes since the scheme was introduced in April 1983.
I am confident that the success of YTS in the east midlands as in other parts of the country will provide a secure base from which young people will be able to build a better future. For the first time in this country we have a high-quality training scheme for all 16 and 17-year-old school leavers. This will be of benefit not only to young people but to British industry, which will gain from a better trained, more flexible young work force.