§ 12. Mr. Barronasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied with the standards of management agencies under the youth training scheme.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonGenerally, yes.
§ 19. Mr. Madelasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his latest estimate of the percentage 482W of those eligible to take up a place on the youth training scheme who are actually so doing; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonIt is difficult to give a precise figure but it is a particularly encouraging achievement that our undertaking to offer all last year's unemployed minimum age school leavers places by Christmas has effectively been met.
§ 25. Mr. Altonasked the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of people he estimates will find full-time employment within a month of leaving the youth training scheme.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonI do not think it would be helpful for me to speculate now on the proportion of trainees who will find employment on leaving the scheme. New jobs, of course, will only be created as industry improves its competitiveness and sells more goods and services at home and abroad. Whilst it can offer no guarantee of employment, the youth training scheme is designed to enhance the employment prospects of young people by better equipping them to meet the new demands of the labour market.
§ 36. Mr. Chapmanasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on progress of the youth training scheme, with particular reference to the percentage of unemployed 16-year-olds placed before Christmas.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonI am very encouraged by the progress of the scheme to date. In particular the Government's undertaking that all 16-year-old school leavers remaining unemployed would be offered a place on the scheme by Christmas has effectively been met. On 4 January only 4,320 were still waiting for the offer of a place of whom 1,790 were still awaiting the results of submission to places.
§ 43. Mr. Sheermanasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he is satisfied with the contribution of private training agencies to the working of the youth training scheme.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonPrivate training agencies are making a useful contribution to the youth training scheme.
§ 44. Mr. Clayasked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he has taken to monitor the quality of training on youth training scheme programmes.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonYouth training scheme programmes are regularly assessed against agreed basic standards. Findings are reported locally to area manpower boards and nationally to the youth training board and its advisory group on content and standards.
§ 46. Mr. Lawlerasked the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has for catering for the needs of those young people who will leave the youth training scheme without having been able to secure full employment.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonMy right hon. Friend announced changes to the young workers scheme on 21 December —[Vol. 51, c. 258–9]—which will encourage employers to provide more jobs for trainees completing their year on the youth training scheme. The training provided under the youth training scheme will improve young people's prospects of employment by making them better able to compete for available jobs.
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§ 49. Mr. Phillip Oppenheimasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the technological emphasis of training available under the youth training scheme.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonAll youth training scheme programmes are required to include an introduction to computer literacy and information technology.
§ Mr. Sheermanasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the estimated cost of the envisaged reduction in approved mode B1 places within the youth training scheme in redundancy payments for staff, writing off equipment and compensating organisations which have undertaken commitments such as leases.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonIt is not possible at this stage to provide an estimate of the costs of reducing mode B1 provision. All managing agents and sponsors contract to run schemes on an annual basis. Where schemes are not renewed, the Manpower Services Commission will need to consider its possible outstanding liabilities on a case-by-case basis. There are some 89,000 mode B1 approved places, of which only 54,300 were filled at the end of December; and there is, of course, a cost to the Manpower Services Commission in maintaining unfilled places.
§ Mr. Jannerasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has issued instructions to the Manpower Services Commission concerning the political activity of trainees on the youth training scheme; whether he has issued any form of guidance to the Manpower Services Commission concerning the participation of trainees in lobbies of the House; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonGuidelines have been issued to Manpower Services Commission staff to the effect that political and related activities are not permissible on YTS programmes. As regards the participation of trainees in lobbies of the House, I refer the hon. and learned Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Huddersfield (Mr. Sheerman) earlier today.
§ Mr. Sheermanasked the Secretary of State for Employment how much finance is currently received from the European social fund towards the cost of the youth training scheme; for which parts of the scheme this finance is received; and by how much the finance received from the fund will be reduced as a result of the envisaged reduction in mode B1 places.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonA total of some £71 million has been allocated from the European social fund towards the cost of the youth training scheme between 1 September 1983 and 31 March 1984. This amount covers all elements of the scheme. It is too early to say how the anticipated level of mode B1 provision for 1984–85 might affect European social fund allocations.
§ Mr. Sheermanasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will issue a further circular giving guidance to the Manpower Services Commission and managing agents for youth training schemes on how to handle trainees who take time off to lobby Parliament.
§ Mr. Peter Morrison[pursuant to his reply, 23 January 1984, c. 429.]: Managing agents and sponsors of YTS programmes are responsible for determining trainees' hours of attendance, within guidelines laid down by the Manpower Services Commission. Trainees can visit 484W Parliament providing their managing agents and sponsors authorise them to do so. I am satisfied that these guidelines are adequate and there are no plans to give further advice.