§ Mr. Craigenasked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the estimated number of young people in the 16 to 18 years age group, inclusive during the period 1979–82 and the target number of young people expected to take up places in the youth opportunities programme during these years.
§ Mr. Jim LesterAccording to the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys, the projected figures for young people in the 16 to 18 years age group for 1979 to 1982 were as follows:
Year and Young people aged 16–18 years of age 1979 2.65 million 1980 2.7 million 1981 2.75 million 1982 2.75 million I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that it estimates the following numbers of young people in the above age group will enter the Youth Opportunities Programme (YOP) in the periods shown.
Year and Estimated Entrants to YOP 1979–80 210,000 1980–81 250,000–260,000