§ Mr. Skinnerasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will now introduce proper disciplinary and complaints procedures into the youth opportunities programme; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AlisonResponsibility for operating disciplinary and complaints procedures is a matter for sponsors. Sponsors undertake to set out a formal disciplinary procedure in writing and to inform all scheme participants.
§ Mr. Majorasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he is satisfied with the average delay between applications by employers to take part in the youth opportunities programme and approval of their schemes; and if he has plans to speed up this process.
§ Mr. AlisonThe average delay between sponsors' applications and the approval of schemes is now about four weeks. The commission has temporarily transferred staff from its employment service to help with backlogs of applications, and I am satisfied that this measure will be effective in reducing delays.
A Rayner scrutiny of the commission's special programmes procedures at regional and area offices has recently been completed and the recommendations in the report—some of which cover the speeding up of scheme approvals—are now being considered.
§ Mr. Fieldasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many 16 to 19-year-olds are currently in the youth opportunities programme; and what is the average length of such courses.
§ Mr. Alison[pursuant to his reply, 17 November 1981]: On 30 September, the latest date for which figures are 151W available, there were approximately 259,000 young people taking part in the youth opportunities programme. The average length of stay of young people on the various elements of the programme is estimated to be as follows:
Average of Length of Stay 1981–82 Scheme type Estimated number of weeks Work Experience on Employers Premises 23 Community Projects 33 Training Workshops 32 Short Courses 13