§ Mr. Chris Smithasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, in each month since the start of the youth training scheme until the latest available date, how many young people have had their supplementary benefit reduced for (a) refusing a place on the youth training scheme and (b) leaving the youth training scheme prematurely; by how much their benefit has been reduced; and how much is the total sum withheld by the Government in this way.
§ Mr. WhitneyThe numbers of young people who have had their supplementary benefit reduced because they have, without good cause refused or left prematurely a place on the youth training scheme are shown in the table.
The normal weekly rate of reduction for a claimant of YTS age during the period in question was £6.60, though different rates may have applied in a very small number of cases depending on individual circumstances. It is estimated that the total sum withheld between December 1983 and September 1984 inclusive was about £275,000.
166W
Refusal of place Premature leaving For the 4 weeks ending: 20 December 1983 175 783 17 January 1984 178 731 14 February 1984 226 1,360 13 March 1984 156 1,223 10 April 1984 87 1,087 8 May 1984 63 895 5 June 1984 47 862 3 July 1984 56 804 31 July 1984 36 627 28 August 1984 27 462 25 September 1984 25 502 Notes:
- 1. Records of supplementary benefit reductions for this reason were not kept prior to December 1983.
- 2. The numbers for the period ending 8 May 1984 are corrected figures from those quoted in the reply of 3 July to the hon. Member for Bishop Auckland (Mr. Foster) at c. 139.