§ Mr. Maddenasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement about progress in making fully operational the youth opportunities scheme and the special temporary employment programme; what are the main objectives of both schemes; how many people are expected to be assisted; when he expects both schemes to be fully operational; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Golding, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 24th July 1978; Vol. 954, c. 581–2], gave the following information:
The Manpower Services Commission have today announced approval for plans submitted by the 28 area boards which envisage the provision of a total of 200,000 places in the youth opportunities programme and 35,000 temporary jobs under the special temporary employment programme by March 1979. Fulfilment of these plans will make it possible to meet the targets for these programmes agreed between the Government and the Commission. The youth opportunities programme will be fully operational by September and the special temporary employment programme is expected to expand progressively as projects under the job creation programme are phased out over the rest of the year. The Government have provided the resources to meet the agreed targets for these programmes but it is essential for the success of both programmes that employers, trade unionists, local authorities, voluntary organisations and other sponsors should continue to 219W come forward with proposals for schemes and projects.
In the light of the need to ensure a rapid development of the youth opportunities programme, careers and employment officers are being allowed, without prejudice to the principle of the "close season" and for this year only, to interview and place summer school leavers in the programme before 1st September in anticipation of the end of the "close season", provided that they are satisfied that the young people concerned arc unlikely to benefit from a return to full-time education in the next academic year and that they would otherwise have remained unemployed. This discretion can be exercised only where places are available which it has not been possible to fill with Easter school leavers and other eligible youngsters. An announcement to this effect is being made by the MSC today and the necessary guidance is being issued to the Careers Service and Employment Service forthwith.
The main objective of the youth opportunities programme is to provide places in work preparation courses and different kinds of work experience for unemployed young people aged under 19 which will give them the chance to acquire the basic skills and experience they need to compete more effectively for permanent jobs. An essential aim of the programme is to ensure that no Easter or summer school leavers who are still unemployed the Easter after they leave school ate without the offer of a suitable opportunity in the programme. The objective of the special temporary employment programme is to provide temporary jobs for unemployed adults, particularly those aged 19–24 who have been unemployed for six months or more and those aged 25 and over who have been unemployed for 12 months or more.