§ Mr. Sheermanasked the Secretary of State for Employment what revisions have now been made to the estimated cost of the youth training scheme in 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87 and 1987–88, as published in tables 3A and 3B of the Manpower Services Commission's corporate plan 1984–88 in the light of experience gained in the first year; if he will publish these revised costs in the Official Report; and if he will give the original and revised assumptions about the pattern of entry to the scheme and the average length of stay on which these figures are based.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonThe tables in the Manpower Services Commission's corporate plan 1984–88 assumed that there would be 420,000 entrants onto the youth training scheme in 1984–85. The forecasts for the three forward years were based on 490,000 entrants. The projections also assumed an average length of stay of around 43 weeks.
The Manpower Services Commission regularly assesses information about the operations of the youth training scheme and reviews assumptions about the scheme accordingly. The review of the scheme by the Youth Training Board now forecasts 405,000 entrants in 1984–85, 395,000 in 1985–86, 385,000 in 1986–87 and 380,000 in 1987–88.
There are indications that expenditure on the youth training scheme in 1984–85 may be less than allowed for in the estimate. The exact extent of the anticipated shortfall is currently under review as are the forecasts by the Youth Training Board of entrants for future years and the financial consequences.