HC Deb 14 February 1978 vol 944 cc181-2W
10. Mr. Scott

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps she is taking to develop a unified system of vocational education and training for the 16 to 19 years of age group.

Mrs. Shirley Williams

My Department, in co-operation with the Training Services Agency, is promoting pilot schemes of unified vocational preparation. In addition, the Further Education Curriculum Review and Development Unit is concentrating effort upon the UVP programme and the youth opportunities programme. Many young people serving as apprentices already benefit from courses of complementary training and education. I announced last June a new further education programme to

the hazards to health involved in the excessive consumption of alcohol.

Mr. Barry Jones

There is no reliable estimate of the total number of cases of alcoholism in Wales but there is evidence of alcohol abuse nationally, particularly among young people, and this causes me concern.

The table below shows for each of the five years for which figures are available the number of persons admitted to mental hospitals and psychiatric units in Wales who have been diagnosed as suffering from alcoholic psychosis or alcoholism:

complement the MSC youth opportunities programme.