§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people entered mode A youth training places in 1983–84; and, of these, how many and what proportion left the scheme early (a) to enter full-time employment, (b) to change to another youth training scheme, (c) to go into full or part-time education and (d) to become registered as unemployed; and if he will provide a regional breakdown of these figures for (i) East Anglia and (ii) Cambridgeshire.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonBetween 1 April 1983 and 31 March 1984, there were 244,725 entrants to mode A youth training schemes. The comparable figures for East Anglia and Cambridgeshire are 7,804 and 2,094 respectively. Information on how many entrants had left the scheme early and what their subsequent destinations were is not available.
A sample survey of leavers between 1 April and 31 July last year in nine areas of the country, indicated that 56 per cent. were in full-time work (and a further 2 per cent. were in part-time work), 4 per cent. were on another youth training scheme, 2 per cent. were in full-time education or training and 34 per cent. were unemployed at the time of the survey (or these, 7 per cent. were intending to go into full-time education or training). The majority (64 per cent.) of leavers covered by this survey had left the scheme early.
§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what is the amount paid under mode A youth training schemes for vacated places in 1984–85; how much this amount was in 1983–84; and what is the percentage difference between the two years;
(2) whether he has any plans to review the cut in the amount payable to operators of mode A youth training schemes as vacated places allowances made for 1984–85; and when he will announce the figures for 1985–86;
(3) what estimates were made by his Department of the effects upon operators of mode A youth training schemes of the cut in the sum paid as vacated places allowance;
(4) what representations he has received concerning the reduction in the amount paid to operators of mode A youth training schemes for vacated places.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonThe compensation made available for vacated places in 1983–84 was a discretionary payment subject to a maximum claim of £12 per week per36W place. Any compensation offered was on the basis of managing agent's demonstrable committed expenditure in respect of a vacated place. In many cases, the determination of the level of claim involved managing agents in time consuming and complex accounting procedures.
In order to simplify the arrangements, it was decided that the compensation made available for vacated places in 1984–85 should be at a flat rate of £8.50 per week per place, subject to a declaration from an agent that inescapable costs exist in respect of a vacated place. In determining this level of compensation due regard was given to average national figures.
The new approach has been generally welcomed by participants in the youth training scheme and to date I have received very few representations commenting adversely on the new arrangements.
I have no plans to review the level of compensation for the 1985–86 year of the youth training scheme.
§ Mr. Wainwrightasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the estimated annual cost of the youth training scheme; and what proportion of this is fixed overhead cost unaffected by duration of training.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonI shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Gordon Brownasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people left youth training schemes before the completion of their first year training in (a) the first six months of 1984 and (b) the second six months of 1984.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonI shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.