§ 17. Mr. Wolfsonasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the degree of co-operation received from employers, unions and voluntary bodies in the organisation of the youth training scheme.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonOver 415,000 youth training scheme places have now been approved. This is the clearest possible indication of the tremendous co-operation being given by all those involved, and in particular employers, in getting the scheme off the ground.
§ 20. Mr. Colin Shepherdasked the Secretary of State for Employment what proposals he has for the continued training of present participants in the youth training scheme.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonThe youth training scheme aims to equip youngsters with a foundation of basic skills on which further training can build. Responsibility for identifying subsequent training needs and arranging to meet them remains with employers, who are best placed to respond quickly and flexibly to market demand.
§ 22. Mr. Craigenasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people entered full-time employment at the last count without recourse to the new youth training scheme.
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Median duration of unemployment Registered unemployed Unemployed claimants April 1979 July 1983 Wembley jobcentre area 16 weeks 24 weeks Willesden jobcentre area 17 weeks 31 weeks
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonThis information is not yet available. It is presently being obtained from sample surveys.
§ 26. Mr. Tom Clarkeasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many fatal accidents involving young people on youth training schemes have taken place in the last two years.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonThere were 15 fatal accidents to young people on the youth opportunities programme and the youth training scheme in the period 1 November 1981 to 28 October 1983.
§ 30. Mr. Haselhurstasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many places have now been taken up in the youth training scheme; and if he will make a statement.
§ 53. Sir William van Straubenzeeasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will make a statement on the current take-up of places on the youth training scheme.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonOver 250,000 young people had entered the youth training scheme by 3 November and we are satisfied that many more will do so in the weeks ahead.
§ 31. Mr. Michael McNair-Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied with the working of the youth training scheme.
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§ 32. Sir John Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement about the operation of the youth training scheme.
§ 39. Mr. Lathamasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will make a statement on the operation on the youth training scheme to the latest convenient date.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonI refer my hon. Friends to the reply my right hon. Friend gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Gordon (Mr. Bruce).
§ 33. Mr. Strangasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people aged 18 years and under are unemployed or on the youth training scheme in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonFigures of people aged 18 years and under who were unemployed on 13 October will be available shortly. At 3 November some 251,000 young people had entered the youth training scheme.
§ 41. Mr. Wareingasked the Secretary of State for Employment if, in the light of protests from the National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education, he will withdraw his draft memorandum relating to off-the-job training on the youth training scheme.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonThe Manpower Services Commission agreed at its meeting on 27 October a memorandum relating to the content of off-the-job training on the youth training scheme and will shortly be issuing the memorandum to its staff. The memorandum makes it clear that political activities and the propagation of political opinions are not permitted within the scheme.
§ 43. Mr. Madelasked the Secretary of State for Employment when he next plans to meet the chairman of the Manpower Services Commission to discuss the progress of the youth training scheme.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonI have, and have had for several months, very regular meetings with the chairman of the Manpower Services Commission to discuss the youth training scheme. I intend to continue this close co-operation.
§ 44. Mr. Hannamasked the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received concerning the financial problems being faced by colleges operating youth training schemes; and if he will make a statement about Manpower Services Commission funding for these courses.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonSome colleges have reported difficulties in keeping within the financial limits set for courses under the youth training scheme. The current rates payable for off-the-job training for the scheme in colleges were agreed between the local authority associations and the Confederation of British Industry. The Manpower Services Commission is considering the matter and will shortly be discussing the funding arrangements for the scheme in 1984–85 with the local authority associations.
§ 45. Mr. Foxasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he expects that the full number of places on the youth training scheme will be occupied in the current year.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonIt is still too early to say how many young people will join the scheme this year. Early124W indications suggest that more young people than expected have either obtained jobs or are staying on in full-time education. The numbers taking up places in October have, however, been higher than expected and by 3 November 251,000 young people had entered the scheme.
§ 51. 51. Mr. Corbettasked the Secretary of State for Employment what, at the latest convenient date, are the number of young people taking part in each version of the youth training scheme; and how this compares with the number of places available.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonBy 3 November some 251,000 young peole had entered the youth training scheme, 178,000 of whom went into mode A scheme, 55,000 into mode B1 and 18,000 into mode B2. Over 415,000 places have been approved of which 297,000 are in mode A schemes, 86,000 mode B1 and 32,000 mode B2.
§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many places have been approved for the youth training scheme; and how many places have been filled at the most recent date for which figures are available.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonAt 3 November, over 415,000 places had been approved for the youth training scheme and some 251,000 young people had entered the scheme.
§ Mr. Proctorasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the progress of implementation of the youth training scheme in the Billericay area.
§ Mr. Peter Morrisonsome 650 young people had entered the youth training scheme in Basildon and Brentwood by the end of October and I am satisfied that take-up of places is progressing satisfactorily.
§ Sir John Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the numbers and composition of staff engaged, whether by his Department or by the Manpower Services Commission, on the administration and inspection of the youth training scheme.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonThe Manpower Services Commission employs some 3,800 permanent staff for work on the youth training scheme, of whom nearly 3,000 are employed in area office setting up, inspecting amd monitoring individual schemes.
A further 300 staff are employed elsewhere within the commision on the recruitment of young people to places on the scheme and on other support services related indirectily to it.
23 Department of Employment staff are engaged either full-time or part-time in monitoring the overall performance and achievement of the scheme.
§ Sir John Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Employment what discussions he has had with representatives of small business on the youth training scheme.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonMinisters in the Department of Employment have regular discussions with organisations representing small firms on a range of matters, including the youth training scheme.