§ Mr. Leightonasked the Secretary of State for Employment what estimate his Department has of the proportion of jobs supported by the young workers scheme which would have existed in any case.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkThe information is not available in the form requested. The young workers scheme is designed to encourage employers to employ more young people at more realistic rates of pay. Survey evidence suggests that at least 20 per cent. of jobs supported were created directly because of the help it provides. It is likely that a significant proportion of the remainder would not have existed in the absence of more realistic rates of pay for young people.