§ 58. Mr. Colvinasked the Secretary of State for Defence to what extent his Department is participating in the youth training scheme; and what is the annual cost.
§ Mr. LeeThere are over 650 young people currently participating in the civilian youth training scheme operating in my Department. Approximately half are in the "Special" YTS operating in Germany for the young dependents of the British forces and civilians serving there. Precise figures relating to the annual cost of running the scheme are not available; however, in a full year based on these numbers, and with "additionality", receipts from the MSC amount to £2 million out of which we pay the trainees' allowances and their college fees, and use the remainder to purchase training equipment and machinery for the use of both the trainees and apprentices in our establishments.
The armed services youth training scheme (ASYTS), although running parallel to the civil YTS scheme, is separate from it. The scheme has continued to provide worth while work and training opportunities for young unemployed people. There have so far been some 5,500 applications, of which 1,481 have been accepted, since the commencement of the scheme.
The estimated net cost to public funds of the ASYTS for FY 84/85 (April-January) is about £1.4 million.