§ Mr. Leightonasked the Secretary of State for Employment how much money will be saved on the expenditure that was originally envisaged on the youth training scheme as a result of the lower take-up of places than was expected.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonThe difference between the cash limit established for the youth training scheme in 1983–84 and the provisional estimate of expenditure was £76.6 million.
§ Mr. Nellistasked the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Coventry, South-East of 12 April, Official Report, column 365, if he will give figures for (a) fatal, (b) major and (c) minor injuries on the youth opportunities programme and, where appropriate, the youth training scheme for the period from April 1983 to September 1983, on a comparable basis to those already published for earlier periods, showing for that period the total number of entrants to the relevant schemes and the average number of entrants on a scheme at any one time.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonThe information requested is in the following table:
to the youth training scheme in the period 1 October 1933 to 31 December 1983 was 134,831. The average number of young people in training on the scheme during that period was 245,733.
§ Mr. Parkasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is now able to assess the impact of the youth training scheme on traditional apprenticeship schemes; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. Peter MorrisonIn 1983–84 funding under the youth training scheme has been available for the first year of all recognised apprentice training. The evidence so far available suggests that support under the scheme has helped maintain recruitment into occupational skills training in engineering and increase it in the construction and electrical contracting industries, as well as increasing the level of basic training throughout industry and commerce.
§ Mr. Parkasked the Secretary of State for Employment what further steps he has taken to disseminate information to school leavers about youth training schemes; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonThe careers service and careers teachers continue to play an active and important role in disseminating information on the youth training scheme to school leavers. In addition the Manpower Services Commission is currently running a national press and television advertising campaign to bring the scheme to the attention of young people. Information about the Scheme is, of course, available from the commission's area offices and jobcentres.
My ministerial colleagues and I continue to take every suitable opportunity to publicise the scheme both at national and local level.
We are satisfied that the Scheme is being very effectively promoted.