Mr. Jim Callaghanasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total amount of money now being spent by the Government in providing training for young people for industry and commerce.
§ Mr. Jim LesterI regret that it is not possible to provide a comprehensive estimate of the full cost to the Government of young people's training because many Government and quasi Government bodies operate their own training programmes, details of which could be obtained only at disproportionate costs.
However, I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that for 1980–81, £182.5 million has been allocated to the Youth Opportunities Programme, which offers training and work experience opportunities to unemployed young people aged under 19, and that £28.5 million out of the some £28.5 million has £51.8 million allocated to the training for skills programme has been set aside to provide support for apprenticeships and other long term training occupations for young people under 19. In addition, in -980–81 £2.2 million has been allocated to the pilot programme of unified vocational preparation which is for employed young epople aged 16–19 who would not normally receive further education or formal training.