§ Mr. Fosterasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is satisfied that the increased responsibilities of coping with the youth opportunities programme are not adversely affecting the amount and quality of careers advice given in schools.
§ Mr. William SheltonThe increase in scale of the youth opportunities programme has placed additional tasks on those who give careers advice to school pupils, and in particular on careers officers—for whom my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment has Ministerial responsibility. As a result, careers services have had to adapt their methods, and many have had to reduce the time spent in schools. None the less, the number of pupils and students receiving careers guidance in the year ended 30 September 1981 was higher than in the previous year.