HC Deb 16 January 1985 vol 71 cc127-8W
Mr. Deakins

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many youth training scheme places were unfilled in Waltham Forest at the latest date for which figures are available; and what proportion of total places this figure represents.

Mr. Peter Morrison

On 8 January there were 781 approved places on the youth training scheme in the London borough of Waltham Forest, 365 of which were unfilled. However, a number of places have only recently been approved and recruitment to these has either not begun or has started only recently.

Mr. Leighton

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of youth training scheme sponsors' staff and managing agents' staff had training at accredited training centres.

Mr. Peter Morrison

The information is not available in the precise form requested. From 1 April 1984 to 30 September 1984, a total of 51,463 people received training through accredited centres. The numbers are made up as follows.

Per cent.
Youth Training Scheme Mode A staff 20,262 39.4
Youth Training Scheme Mode B staff 20,130 39.1
Non-Youth Training Scheme staff 11,661 21.5

In addition, managing agents and sponsors can and do make separate arrangements for staff training either through their own training facilities or by using external training agencies.

Mr. Sheerman

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people in training on the youth training scheme are estimated to be employees (a) on current year schemes and (b) on previous year schemes; how these figures compare with the previous year; what growth in the number of employees was expected when planning 1984–85 places; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Peter Morrison

[pursuant to his reply, 10 January 1985, c. 535]: It is necessary to distinguish between the number of jobs for 16-year-olds which are covered by the youth training scheme (but which may be filled by youngsters with either employee or trainee status) and the number of young people on the scheme who are actually given employee status.

In 1983–84 it is estimated that about 14,000 young people entered the youth training scheme as employees; more became employees during the course of the year, but the precise number is not known. Up to the end of November 1984, it is estimated that around 14,400 young people on 1984–85 schemes had joined as employees.

In planning for 1984–85, no estimate was made of the number of youngsters likely to join the youth training scheme with employee status. For planning purposes, it was estimated that the number of jobs for 16-year-olds which would be covered by the scheme (and which may be filled by either employees or trainees) would increase from the estimated 50,000 achieved in 1983–84 to about 115,000 in 1984–85. However, latest estimates suggest that in the event about 80,000 such jobs will be covered by the scheme in 1984–85.