HC Deb 13 January 1976 vol 903 c129W
Mr. Peter Mills

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people under the age of 21 years are being retrained in Okehampton, Tavistock, Torrington, Holsworthy and Ivybridge.

Mr. Harold Walker

On 30th November 1975 there were over 700 people under 21 who were being trained under the auspices of the Training Services Agency in Wales and West Region, as against just over 5,000 nationally. More detailed figures are not available for the areas mentioned in the Question.

Under the Training Opportunities Scheme (TOPS) training is restricted to people aged 19 and over who have spent at least three years away from full-time education. Nevertheless, a limited number of training places have been made available to young people under 19 under "special measures" designed by the Manpower Services Commission. On 8th December 1975 there were 40 young people under the age of 19 years receiving training through the TSA in the county of Devon under "special measures", 28 at Plymouth and 12 at Exeter.