§ 20. Mr. Flanneryasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he has recently held any discussions with the Manpower Services Commission on the youth opportunities programme.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonI refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to my hon. Friends the Members for Saffron Walden (Mr. Haselhurst) and Northampton, North (Mr. Marlow).
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§ Mr. Harold Walkerasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied that the youth opportunities programme is evolving in a way that will provide sufficient places for the new youth training scheme when it becomes effective in 1983; and how many 12-month training places have been provided so far.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonI am satisfied, at this early stage, that it will be possible to achieve the ambitious target of places needed for the new youth training scheme by September 1983.
No statistics on numbers of 12-month training places starting in September 1982 are yet available.
§ Mrs. Shirley Williamsasked the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of young people who completed youth opportunities programme courses in the first half of June 1981 have entered full-time employment, and what proportion have entered full-time further education.
Mr. Peter Morrison: The information requested is not available. The following table gives the most recent sample survey information which relates to young people who entered work experience elements of the youth opportunities programme between July and September 1980 and who were surveyed a year later:
Youth Opportunities Programme Activity on leaving scheme per cent
Activity at time of survey per cent
Employed 47 52 In full-time education 2 3