§ Mr. Leeasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is proposing to make any modifications to the young workers scheme following the start of the youth training scheme.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkIt has already been announced that the young workers scheme will continue to be available to assist employers taking on young people aged 16 or 17 who are not covered by the youth training scheme. Young people leaving the youth training scheme will also be eligible for support under the young workers scheme if they are under 18, earn less than the specified earnings limits and are in their first year of employment. Time spent in the youth training scheme as a trainee will be disregarded for the purposes of this calculation; for those participating in the YTS as employees, however, the time must count towards the first year of employment.
I have decided to increase the earnings limits of the young workers scheme with effect from 1 August 1983. Claims covering periods of employment including 1 August will be paid at the rate of £15 per week in respect of each eligible employee whose gross earnings are not more than £42 a week, and £7.50 per week in respect of each eligible employee whose gross earnings are more than £42 but not more than £47 a week. For claims which cover periods ending on or before 31 July, the current earnings limits of less than £40 and less than £45 respectively will continue to apply.
57WI am also amending the current rules about the acceptance of applications for support under the scheme. Applications will be accepted from 1 August 1983 only if they are submitted within 13 weeks of the first date on which all the conditions of the scheme are met, rather than six months as at present.