HC Deb 26 March 1984 vol 57 cc33-4W
Mr. Barry Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of school leavers in Wales joined youth training schemes in 1983–84; how many youth

1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 (to date)
Electronic Industry*
New company locations† 6 2 13 3 —
Employment provided (latest available) 334 817 1,044 493 —
Value of Selective Financial Assistance offers accepted by these companies £260,500 £530,000 £4,006,600 £2,220,000 —
Regional Development Grant paid‡ — — £1,265,000 £1,532,000 —
* Electronic industry includes the manufacture of telegraph and telephone apparatus and equipment; radio and electronic components; broadcast receiving and sound reproducing equipment; electronic computers; radio, radar and electronic capital goods.
† Includes only companies which have actually located during the years concerned.
‡ Relates to individual payments of £25,000 or more.

Some of these new projects are still manning up to targets and should provide a further 1,850 jobs.

In addition, new projects not yet in production and expansions by existing companies in the electronics industry, for which an offer of selective financial assistance has been accepted, are expected to lead to 3,500 jobs. This includes the recent announcement by Sharp of its Wrexham project.

training scheme places in total exist in Wales in 1984; what percentage of youth training scheme places remain unfilled in 1984; and what efforts he is making to improve the take-up of the youth training scheme places.

Mr. John Stradling Thomas

Of the eligible school leavers who entered the labour market in 1983 approximately 78 per cent. have so far joined the youth training scheme. At 29 February 1984 the number of approved places was 24,337 and at that date the number of places occupied was 16,330 amounting to 67 per cent. of places available. The target number of entrants for the end of February 1984 was set at 24,250 and by 29 February 21,093 had entered the scheme in Wales which represents 87 per cent. of the profiled entry for that date. A national press and TV campaign will be launched shortly which, together with local marketing initiatives, will further emphasise the opportunities available under the scheme.