§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the legal effect of the statement in leaflet IS 26 that a person aged 16 or 17 years has a right to the offer of a youth training place; and what remedy is available if such an offer is not made.
§ Mr. McLoughlinThe statement reflects the Government's guarantee of the offer of a suitable youth training place to young people aged 16 and 17 who are not in full-time education or a job and are seeking training. The Department contracts with training and enterprise councils for the delivery of the guarantee at local level and various remedies are available to my right hon. Friend if training and enterprise councils fail to deliver the guarantee. The contract requires training and enterprise councils to record and investigate any complaint made directly by or on behalf of a person in the guarantee group to the effect that the guarantee has not been discharged in respect of that person. Training and enterprise councils are required to use best endeavours to remedy any complaint which is upheld or, if a remedy is not available, to notify my right hon. Friend in writing.