HC Deb 03 May 1988 vol 132 cc355-6W
17. Mr. Devlin

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a further statement on the progress of YTS.

Mr. Norman Fowler

Two-year YTS was introduced in April 1986 and the programme is now firmly established as the major route from school to work, providing training for around 60 per cent. of all 16 and 17-year-old entrants to the labour market. Three quarters of all young people leaving YTS go into a job, full-time education or further training.

25. Mr. Anthony Coombs

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest figures for YTS trainees going into work or further education and training.

Mr. Lee

The Manpower Services Commission conducts regular follow-up surveys of all YTS leavers. The latest results show that 75 per cent. of young people who left YTS schemes betweeen April 1986 and October 1987, were in work, further education or training at the time of the survey.

29. Mr. Hayes

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people are currently on YTS training schemes.

Mr. Nicholls

At the end of March 1988 the Manpower Services Commission management information system shows some 389,000 in training on YTS. This figure represents an impressive achievement in convincing young people the value of training. It also represents significant progress towards our objective that all young people under 18 years of age should have the opportunity either to continue in full-time education or of entering a period of work experience combined with work-related training and education.

73. Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of YTS participants leave the scheme with a recognised qualification.

Mr. Cope

Until recently, as a result of the conversion to two-year YTS, 90 per cent. of leavers were early leavers and therefore not representative. Most young people will not have completed their two-year training programme until after March 1988. A national survey of those trainees who have stayed into their second year shows that 54 per cent. have already gained a qualification, and that a significantly higher proportion will have entered for a qualification by the end of their second year.