HC Deb 10 January 1985 vol 70 cc535-7W
Mr. Sheerman

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received from careers officers on the accuracy of the information collected from the careers service by the Manpower Services Commission for youth training scheme purposes; whether he is satisfied with the accuracy of the information provided by the careers service on the number of young people leaving school and the number likely to find work by 31 December 1985; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Peter Morrison

A number of representations have been received from the careers service on this issue. The main point raised was that the deadline date of 16 October 1984 by which the information was to be returned to this Department was too early to allow accurate figures to be produced.

The Manpower Services Commission recognises the limitations on the quality of the data which the careers service provided by the given date. Nevertheless, it is felt that the information provided an early indication of likely developments which, combined with information from other sources, made a valuable input to the planning of the youth training scheme for the year ahead.

Principal careers officers are being asked to supply revised estimates later this month in the light of the better information which will then be available to them.

Mr. Sheerman

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish details of the exercise by which the careers service gave the Manpower Services Commission information on the labour market prospects of 1984–85 school leavers, showing for (a) 16-year-olds, (b) 17-year-olds, and (c) 18-year-olds the number and proportion expected to leave school, and the number and proportion expected to find work outside the youth training scheme by 31 December 1985 for each Manpower Services Commission region.

Mr. Peter Morrison

The information requested is as follows. It is derived from provisional forecasts of the position in December 1985 made by principal careers officers in the autumn of 1984 and must therefore be regarded as tentative. Principal careers officers will be asked to provide revised forecasts later this month in the light of the better information which will then be available to them.

Notes:

* Excludes those entering Further/Higher Education

† Includes MSC estimates for some LEAs

‡ Includes SED forecasts for some LEAs

Percentages are based on the totals eligible to leave school.

All figures exclude further education college leavers and leavers from independent schools.

Ages are as at 31 August 1985.