§ Mr. Proctorasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many places are currently provided for unemployed young people under the youth opportunities programme in the Basildon area of Essex; what is the cost of this provision; whether he has any plans to increase this provision; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonAbout 1,200 places are currently available on the youth opportunities programme in Basildon. About 1,025 young people entered the programme in Basildon between April 1982 and February 1983. The average gross cost of an entrant to the programme is about £40 per week.
From September 1983, the youth opportunities programme will be replaced by the new youth training scheme. It is expected that about 1,400 young people will join the scheme in Basildon in 1983–84.