§ Mr. Goldingasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people covered by the undertaking to long-term unemployed young people had not been made an offer of a place on a youth opportunities programme scheme by the date of the count in March in Merseyside, Strathclyde, Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Sunderland, Middlesbrough and Swansea; and when he expects that all will have received an offer.
§ Mr. Jim LesterI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the undertaking to long-term unemployed young people is monitored on a quarterly basis. The latest available statistics relate to the count on 10 January 1980 and the numbers of young people awaiting an offer on that date in the listed special programmes areas were:
Birmingham … … … 122 Merseyside … … … 734 Middlesbrough … … 132 Strathclyde* … … … 812 Sunderland … … … 192 Swansea … … … 110 Wolverhampton … … 210 * excludes Careers Service figures. The present indications are that by 10 April 1980, the concluding count date, the undertaking will have been met in most areas. However, the number of young people who remain on the register having refused the offer of a suitable place on the programme may be relatively high.
§ Mr. Goldingasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people, covered by the undertaking to 1979 school leavers, had not been made an offer of a place on the youth opportunities programme by the date of the March count in Birmingham, Nottingham, Wolverhampton, Middlesbrough, Sunderland, Merseyside, Manchester, Horsham, Ipswich, Bristol, Exeter, Cardiff, Hull, Leeds and Sheffield; and whether they will have received an offer by Easter.
§ Mr. Jim LesterI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the latest available statistics relating to the school leaver undertaking refer to the count on 14 February 1980. The numbers of young people awaiting an offer on that 435W day in listed special programmes areas were:
Birmingham … … 487 Bristol … … 199 Cardiff … … 351 Exeter … … 256 Horsham … … 103 Hull … … 255 Ipswich … … 166 Leeds … … 303 Manchester … … 271 Merseyside … … 1,081 Middlesbrough … … 261 Nottingham … … 268 Sheffield … … 413 Sunderland … … 438 Wolverhampton … … 493 The present indications are that by 10 April, the concluding count date, the undertaking will have been discharged fully in nearly all areas.
§ Mr. Goldingasked the Secretary of State for Employment when he intends to announce the launch of the service away from home scheme funded under the youth opportunities programme; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Jim LesterI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the service away from home scheme is sponsored by community service volunteers under the youth opportunities programme. I understand that the scheme is funded on a pilot basis for one year and began in August 1979. The scheme is being closely evaluated and a decision on its future will be made before the expiry date of the pilot period.