§ Mr. Fosterasked the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of the young people participating in the youth opportunities programme in (a) the Northern region, (b) the Durham county council area and (c) the Bishop Auckland constituency have found permanent work within four weeks of leaving the programme.
§ Mr. Jim Lester[pursuant to his reply, 4 March 1980]; I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that this information is not available.
§ Mr. Fosterasked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he is taking to ensure the adequacy of training in the work experience on employers' premises aspect of the youth opportunities programme.
§ Mr. Jim Lester[pursuant to his reply, 4 March 1980]; I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission (MSC), which is responsible for the youth opportunities programme, that work experience on employers' premises is intended primarily to enable young people to gain experience of different types of work. However, training of young people on these schemes is encouraged both in and away from the work place.
I understand that the MSC now applies more rigorous standards to both existing and new schemes, and is actively trying to attract into the programme larger employers with good training records. All schemes are monitored frequently and thoroughly by MSC staff.
206WSince the inception of the programme the director of special programmes has been advised by specialist advisory bodies which have been working on the development of quality in the provision of work experience. The PROFILE task group produced a set of principles and guidelines relating to work experience; more recently other groups have been examining how the effectiveness of training in the work place can be improved and how teaching and learning materials can be developed for use by work-based instructors.
I am also informed by the Manpower Services Commission that facilities are being developed whereby employers' staff supervising young people in work experience schemes may receive suitable instructional training. The MSC is also actively encouraging young people on work experience schemes to receive appropriate supportive training in colleges of further education. Local education authorities arc being asked to be more aware of the likely training needs of young people on YOP schemes when planning training provision available for young people.