§ 23. Mr. O'Brienasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will make job substitution effects one of the criteria of assessment for renewing youth training schemes.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonI am satisfied that area manpower boards will not approve the renewal of schemes where there is evidence of job substitution.
157W
§ 28. Mrs. McCurleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to introduce a certificate of youth training.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonYoung people leaving the youth training scheme receive a certificate showing what they have achieved. As announced in the White Paper "Training for Jobs" it is planned to develop a system of certification which can be applied to both the youth training scheme and prevocational and vocational courses in schools and further education.
§ 32. Mr. Lewis Stevensasked the Secretary of State for Employment what progress has been made in improving the quality of the youth training schemes.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonGood progress has been made but we are not complacent and we shall continue to seek further improvements in the quality of youth training schemes.
Monitoring procedures are now well established and a network of accredited centres has been set up to provide training for sponsors' staff. In addition, one quality adviser has been appointed in each of the nine regions to act as an assessor and training consultant.
§ 39. Mr. Baldryasked the Secretary of State for Employment what detailed monitoring is being carried out by the Manpower Services Commission as to the effectiveness of the youth training scheme.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonThe youth training scheme is monitored closely by the Manpower Services Commission and reports are provided locally to area manpower boards and nationally to the youth training board. All programmes under the scheme are assessed by commission staff at least four times a year and more frequently where monitoring shows this to be necessary. In addition, a programme of evaluation of the scheme has been agreed and this will determine how the objectives of the scheme are being met.
§ 52. Mr. Easthamasked the Secretary of State for Employment by how much the youth training scheme allowance would need to be increased to have the same purchasing power as it had after the last increase.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonThe current level of the allowance was set at £25 per week in January 1982. Between January 1982 and April 1984 the general index of retail prices rose by 11.3 per cent. If this was applied to the training allowance, it would mean an increase of £2.82 a week.
§ 56. Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Employment what measures his Department is taking to encourage race and sex equality on the youth training scheme.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonThe youth training scheme is open to all eligible young people regardless of race, religion, sex or disability. The Manpower Services Commission actively pursues an equal opportunities policy and encourages the participation of all eligible youngsters through marketing and publicity campaigns. Commission staff monitor all schemes and this includes an assessment of equality of opportunities on schemes. Studies have been commissioned to examine the particular needs of young women and ethnic minorities on the scheme.
158W
§ 61. Mr. Spearingasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will assess the merits of mode B of the youth training scheme.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonAll schemes under the youth training scheme have to meet the same standards o quality regardless of the mode of funding. Although the needs of most youngsters are best met through employer-led schemes, mode B provision has an important and continuing role to play, especially where the particular needs of some youngsters are best provided for in this way or where there is a limited range of opportunities available under mode A.