§ Mr. LeightonTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what consideration he has given to keeping figures for youth training participation in the London borough of Newham separately.
§ Miss WiddecombeTraining and enterprise councils (TECs) are required to provide information at four-weekly intervals of the number of young people in youth training. We have no plans to require information to be provided at a more local level.
§ Mr. SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment within what time it is guaranteed to find a youth training placement for each person who wants one.
§ Miss WiddecombeTraining and enterprise councils (TECs) are contractually required to offer entry into youth training (YT) for young people in the guarantee groups within certain specified periods of time.
For young people leaving school and registering for YT for the first time this summer, this will mean a start in training within the period up to the first working day in January (that is, no later than when their parents' entitlement to the extended child benefit runs out).
For those who have already been in YT or a job, the entitlement is the offer of a start in training within eight weeks of registering for YT with the Careers Service (that is, within the period for which they may be eligible to claim YT bridging allowance).
Full details of the entitlements of those covered by the YT guarantees are contained in clauses B7–15 of annex B to the TEC operating agreement 1993, a copy of which is in the Library.
§ Mr. SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will increase the youth training allowances.
§ Miss WiddecombeThere are no set allowances for youth training. The Government provide a minimum allowance which I believe is sufficient to meet the normal requirements of trainees living in the parental home.
However, employers are the main beneficiaries of the Government's investment in training and are strongly encouraged to supplement trainee incomes.
In addition, trainees who live independently may apply for income support if they consider their income is insufficient to meet their needs.
§ Mr. SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people are seeking youth training for the second time.
§ Miss WiddecombeInformation on the total number of young people seeking youth training (YT) for the second time is not available. However, the latest information (June) on the number of 16 and 17-year-olds covered by the YT guarantee in England showed that 37 per cent. of those waiting for eight weeks or more had already had YT on one or more occasion.
§ Mr. SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many 16 and 17-year-olds in Nottinghamshire are without a job, or a place on a training scheme and are not in full-time education.
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§ Miss WiddecombeIn April 1993 there were 358 unemployed cliamants aged 16 and 17 years in the Nottinghamshire county.
Changes to the benefit regulations in September 1988 coincided with the extension of a guaranteed youth training scheme (YTS), now youth training (YT), place to all those aged under 18 not in full-time education or employment, which meant that those who declined an offer of a YTS place were no longer entitled to benefit. However, there are still a small number of under 18-year-olds entitled to benefit due to special circumstan-ces, such as severe hardship or by virtue of their being orphans.
§ Mr. SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of young people leave youth training to enter full-time employment.
§ Miss WiddecombeThe latest figures show that 47 per cent. of all young people in Great Britain were in full-time employment six months after leaving youth training.