§ 20. Mr. Roweasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he is satisfied with the criteria for assessing the effectiveness of mode B1 schemes within the youth training scheme; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonThe same criteria are used for assessing the quality of training in all modes of the youth training scheme and I am satisfied with the current arrangements.
§ 40. Mr. Nicholas Bakerasked the Secretary of State for Employment what progress is being made in the design and marketing of the products of mode B training workshops; and what wider implications this development has for the youth training scheme as a whole and in particular for strengthening the links between the youth training scheme and industry.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonTraining workshops aim to produce goods to commercial standards but must not put at risk any existing jobs or businesses locally. A number of initiatives are currently under way which should improve the quality and design of the products of training workshops and at the same time increase and enhance the training opportunities for young people. This work is expected to reinforce the links between industry and the youth training scheme.
§ 50. Mr. Gouldasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he is satisfied with the current operation of the youth training scheme.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonYes. A sound start has been made in the first year of 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 Basildon and Brentwood.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonAt the end of January there were some 750 young people in training on the youth training scheme in Basildon and Brentwood. I am satisfied that there are sufficient places available to meet the needs of young people in this area.
The Christmas undertaking to provide all minimum age school leavers remaining unemployed with an offer of a 463W place on the scheme by Christmas was effectivly met in this area. Only four eligible young people were still waiting for the offer of a place by that date.
§ 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 Thurrock.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonAt the end of January there were some 590 young people in training on the youth training scheme in Thurrock.
I am satisfied that there are sufficient places available to meet the needs of young people in this area.
The Christmas undertaking to provide all minimum age school leavers remaining unemployed with an offer of a place on the scheme by Christmas was met in Thurrock. Every eligible school leaver received an offer of a place by that date.
§ Mr. Geoffrey Robinsonasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the cost per trainee of the youth training scheme for 1982–83.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonThe youth training scheme did not become fully operational until September 1983. Information about costs in 1982–83 is not available in the exact form requested.
§ Mr. Adleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement about the transfer of departmental funds from the youth training scheme to the community programme.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonI refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Lincoln (Mr. Carlisle) on 23 January at c. 430 and to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Stratford-on-Avon (Mr. Howarth) on 24 January at c. 490.
§ Mr. Strangasked the Secretary of State for Employment what recent representations he has received about the level of the youth training scheme allowances.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonThe government have received representations from Members of Parliament, various organisations and individual members of the public.
§ Mr. Sheermanasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give a breakdown at the latest available date of the number of young people on the youth training scheme (a) by region, (b) by industry, (c) by sex, (d) by ethnic groupings and (e) by wage level.
§ Mr. Peter Morrison[pursuant to his reply, 20 February 1984, c. 385.]: At the end of December, the number of young people in training on the youth training scheme was as follows:
464W
Region Numbers in training Scotland 23,837 Northern 19,303 North West 38,954 Yorkshire/Humberside 26,805 Midlands 53,395 Wales 16,373 South West 20,172 South East 42,105 London 15,589 GREAT BRITAIN 250,183 Information is not available at present on the number of young people on the youth training scheme by industry.
By the end of December, about 177,800 male entrants and 126,000 female entrants to the youth training scheme had been recorded. The breakdown by ethnic origin was as follows:
Entrants White/European 272,500 African/West Indian 6,900 Asian 3,800 Others 4,500 Entrants to Construction Industry Training Board Schemes (not classified by ethnic group) 16,600 TOTAL 304,300 The current training allowance is £25 a week. No information is available on numbers of young people on the scheme who receive allowances or wages above this level.