HC Deb 14 April 1980 vol 982 cc560-2W
Mrs. Ann Taylor

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what numbers and proportions of boys and girls in England and Wales in the 16 to 19-year age group were (a) in school, (b) in full-time non-advanced further education, (c) in full-time or sandwich advanced further education and university education, (d) in employment with part-time further education, (e) on the unemployment register in January 1979 and January 1980 and (f) employed but

Males number (000s) Per cent. Females number (000s) Per cent. Persons number (000s) Per cent.
Population 1,197 100 1,134 100 2,331 100
In schools 192 16 180 16 372 16
In full-time non-advanced further education 95 8 128 11 223 10
In full-time and sandwich advanced further education(2) 39 3 30 3 69 13
Employed with day-release 235 20 55 5 290 12
Registered unemployed (January 1979) 83 7 78 7 161 7
Employed without day release 553 46 663 58 1,216 52

(1) Those who at 31 August 1978 had attained the age of 16 but had not yet reached their 19th birthday.

(2) Includes university education.

Corresponding January 1980 figures for the registered unemployed were 80,000 males and 77.000 females.

Mrs. Ann Taylor

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what numbers and proportions of boys and girls in England and Wales reaching the minimum school leaving age in 1977–78 and 1978–79 (a) stayed on at school, (b) entered full-time or sandwich further education, (c) entered employment with part-time day further education, (d) were

Males Number (000s) per cent. Females Number (000s) per cent. Persons Number (000s) per cent.
Population: 411 100 390 100 801 100
In school 111 27 109 28 220 27
In full-time and sandwich further education 47 12 67 17 114 14
Employed with day release 70 17 19 5 89 11
Registered unemployed (January 1979) 26 6 26 7 51 6
Employed without day release 157 38 170 44 327 41

Corresponding figures for those reaching the minimum school leaving age during 1978–79 are not yet available apart from the registered unemployed for January 1980 of 25,000 males and 25,000 females.

Mr. Best

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to report the findings of the working party set up to consider the education provision for 16 to 19-year-

not on part-time day courses at the most recent available date.

Mr. Macfarlane

The pattern of education and training for young people in the 16 to 19 age group1 during the academic year 1978–79 was as follows:

on the unemployment register at January 1979 and at January 1980 and (e) were employed but not on part-time day courses.

Dr. Boyson

The pattern of education and training during 1978–79 for young people who reached the minimum school leaving age during the academic year 1977–78 was as follows:

olds, particularly with a view to them leaving school early to take up apprenticeships.

Mr. Macfarlane

The group considering educational provision for 16–19-year-olds hopes to report to its sponsors in central and local government by the end of the year. Any wider implications for secondary school education which may emerge from its findings will need to be assessed in the light of all the factors involved.