§ Mr. Chris Smithasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the number of (a) fatal. (b) major and (c) minor accidents on the youth training scheme for the period from 1 July to 30 September, showing the average number of persons in training in each month during that period and the total number of entrants to the scheme for those three months.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonThe information requested is tabled below.
1 July to 30 September 1984 Youth Training Scheme Number of entrants (a) 190,013 Average number in training (a) per month 295,226 Number of fatalities (b) 3 Number of injuries (c): Major 50 Minor 370 Total number of injuries 423 (a) These figures are provisional and will be subject to change as further information becomes available.
(b) This figure includes two road traffic accidents.
(c) MSC accident figures for the youth training scheme are compiled on a similar basis to those prepared by the Health and Safety Executive on employed persons. However, the figures quoted in the above table will include a number of accidents, in particular road traffic accidents during scheme time and accidents to trainees in educational establishments, which may not have been reportable to the HSE had the individuals been employed.
§ Mr. Chris Smithasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will estimate the level of allowance which would be paid to young people on the youth training scheme, for each year since 1982, if that allowance had been increased since 1982, by (a) the rise in prices and (b) the rise in average earnings.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonThe allowance paid to trainees was set at £25 per week in January 1982. If the allowance 51W had been increased in January 1983 and January 1984 in line with either the movement in the general index of retail prices or the average earnings index, the revised rates would have been as follows:
In line with retail prices index In line with average earnings index (whole economy, seasonally adjusted) £ £ January 1983 26.23 27.20 January 1984 27.58 29.12
§ Mr. Chris Smithasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many places under the youth training scheme for the year 1984–85 have been approved with the company Rank Xerox.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonAt the end of November, 93 mode A places had been approved under the youth training scheme at Rank Xerox UK and 48 mode A places at Rank Xerox International. A further 26 mode A places had been approved at Rank Xerox Engineering and this company also has 20 approved places under mode B1.
§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many young women are entering women-only training courses within the youth training scheme in 1984–85.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonTo date two training projects under the youth training scheme have been designated under section 47 of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 permitting training for young women only. Of the 46 places being offered in 1984–85 on these schemes, 25 are currently occupied.
§ Mr. Chris Smithasked the Secretary of State for Employment how the sum of £78 paid by the Manpower Services Commission to the parents of George McCormack, killed on a youth training scheme in West Lothian on 27 July, was calculated; whether he has any intention of increasing the amount awarded; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter Morrison[pursuant to his reply, 29 November 1984, c. 539–40]: The payment by the Manpower Services Commission to the parents of George McCormack was exactly the same as would have been made by the Department of Health and Social Security, under section 71 of the Social Security Act 1975, had he been an employee.