§ Mr. Altonasked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest figures for the destinations of people completing the youth training scheme.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonThe Manpower Services Commission conducts a regular survey of youth training scheme leavers. Questionnaires are sent to 15 per cent. of leavers some three months after they leave the scheme. The latest information, which is available in the Library, covers young people who left the scheme in October 1984. This shows that 49 per cent. were in work, 9 per cent. were on another youth training scheme, 1 per cent. were on a full-time course at a college or training centre, 1 per cent. were back at school, 38 per cent. were unemployed and 2 per cent. were doing something else.
The decrease in the proportion in work compared to results of surveys for previous months reflects partly the seasonal reduction in the recruitment activity of employers and partly the considerably lower number of those who left the youth training scheme in October 1984, many of them before they had completed a full period of training.
A much more comprehensive picture is provided by the survey of those leaving the scheme between July and September 1984, which shows that some 60 per cent. went into employment and about two thirds went into work or full-time education or training.
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the total sums which have been devoted to running the youth training scheme in the west midlands region in each single year since its initiation and the number of participants during the same period.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonThe information requested is as follows. The west midlands region is taken to cover the areas of Birmingham, Coventry/Warwick, Dudley/Sandwell, Staffordshire, Telford and Wolverhampton/Walsall.
Expenditure Participants £ £ 1983–84 43,140,841 45,483 1984–85 85,960,480 51,762 Current plans are for an expenditure of about £88 million and 51,000 entrants in 1985–86.