§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he will take to enable training and enterprise councils to ensure that young people with special training needs receive support including counselling and advocacy which will enable them to complete their training successfully.
§ Miss WiddecombeTraining and enterprise councils are obliged through their contract with the Department to arrange for young people entering training to be assessed and given an individual training plan suited to their needs and abilities. Where special training needs are identified, the training plan must be individually designed to give the support and help required to enable the young people to make such progress towards general and vocational competences as lies within their reach. Training plans and progress against them are regularly reviewed and any necessary changes agreed between the trainee and the training provider.
§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to ensure that young people with special training needs will be able to take full advantage of the modern apprenticeship scheme.
§ Miss WiddecombeMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has made it clear that he wants to see modern226W apprenticeships open equally to all young people. We are asking industry training organisations to take account of all aspects of equal opportunities in apprenticeship models they develop including provision for the assessment and endorsement of special training needs. We shall continue to place a contractual requirement on training and enterprise councils to ensure equality of opportunity in all their activities.