HC Deb 30 March 1982 vol 21 cc77-8W
19. Mr. Speller

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest number of people being helped under the youth opportunities programme.

Mr. Peter Morrison

At the end of February there were approximately 225,000 young people on schemes funded under the youth opportunities programme. In addition, 11,500 adults were employed within the programme as supervisors and tutors.

Mr. Hoyle

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will review the salary scales paid to managers of trainees under the youth opportunities programme, so as to provide a new rate of salary for managers responsible for 80 or more trainees, and which would place them on a scale which would progress in line with the numbers of trainees under their supervision;

(2) whether any salary increases are planned for managers and supervisor instructors on youth opportunities programme schemes.

Mr. Peter Morrison

The salaries of adult staff on youth opportunities programme schemes are reimbursed by the Manpower Services Commission up to certain specific maxima based on the local authority non-manual rates of pay. The effective date of any increase in local authority rates of pay is normally 1 July.

A review was carried out by the Civil Service Department last year into the pay and grading of all levels of adult staff on YOP schemes. This review has now been completed and a copy of the final report has been sent to the commission for consideration.

Mr. Hoyle

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will take steps to establish a career structure for manager and career supervisor instructors on youth opportunity programme schemes.

Mr. Peter Morrison

Adult staff on youth opportunities programme schemes are the employees of the scheme sponsor; staff should normally be recruited from amongst the unemployed but, subject to this general criterion, it is for the sponsor to decide whom he wishes to appoint to vacancies within the scheme. The Manpower Services Commission makes training available to scheme staff which is designed to improve their effectiveness, but, because the commission is not the employer of the staff concerned, it is not appropriate for it to attempt to lay down rules concerning a career structure for youth opportunities programme scheme staff.

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