§ Mr. IllsleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether there are any exemptions to the requirement for agents of YTS to have approved training status; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. CopeThere are no exemptions to the requirement that agents of YTS must achieve approved training organisations status. New organisations contracting with the Training Commission to deliver YTS programmes must apply for ATO status within one month of signing a contract and their training arrangements are monitored against the ATO criteria. A decision on whether to award ATO status will be made within a year of their contracting with the commission to provide training.
§ Mr. IllsleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether there are any agents of YTS who have not acquired approved training status still operating as agents of that scheme; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. CopeOnly 136 (4 per cent.) of all agents contracted to deliver YTS by the Training Commission have yet to acquire approved training organisation status. All these organisations have recently contracted with the Training Commission to deliver YTS training and their training arrangements are being monitored against the 10 ATO criteria prior to a decision on their status.