HC Deb 18 February 1986 vol 92 cc134-7W
18. Mr. Wallace

asked the Paymaster General if he will make a statement on the funding for the second year YTS.

Mr. Trippier

The Government are increasing their funding of YTS from the current £850 million to £970 million in 1986–87, rising to more than £1.25 billion in 1988–89, to allow the expansion of YTS into a two-year scheme. We are therefore making a substantial and increasing contribution to the scheme. We also expect employers generally to make a higher contribution in future, in recognition of the better trained work force that YTS will produce.

20. Mr. Meadowcroft

asked the Paymaster General if he intends to increase the resources available to the Manpower Services Commission for the YTS.

Mr. Trippier

Resources will increase from the current level of some £850 million a year to £970 million in 1986–87 and to more than £l.25 billion in 1988–89.

30. Mr. Whitfield

asked the Paymaster General if he will estimate the number of trainees on the YTS who could be assisted to set up their own businesses.

Mr. Trippier

I hope a significant number will be helped to do so. There are already a number of development projects introducing YTS trainees to the world of enterprise and small business. However, there is clearly scope for considerable expansion both of general business awareness training and of specific training for selected young people who wish to set up in business.

33. Mr. Allan Roberts

asked the Paymaster General if he will make a statement about the support given to YTS leavers in getting jobs.

101. Mr. Tom Clarke

asked the Paymaster General if he will make a statement about the support given to YTS leavers in getting jobs.

107. Mrs. Dunwoody

asked the Paymaster General if he will make a statement about the support given to YTS leavers in getting jobs.

Mr. Trippier

The Manpower Services Commission aims to ensure that the training available through YTS enables young people to acquire skills that are relevant to the labour market. This is the most effective means of ensuring that young people leaving YTS are well placed to move into jobs. The Commission also requires that those running schemes provide guidance for trainees in making the transition to work. Including how to find and apply for job vacancies and coaching in job interview skills. In addition, guidance and help is available from careers offices and jobcentres.

40. Mr. Pike

asked the Paymaster General what is his estimate of the cost of the first full year of operation of the two-year YTS expressed in constant 1983 prices.

Mr. Trippier

We expect that two-year YTS will build up over the next two to three years, and the spending we have allocated will build up accordingly. By 1988–89 it will amount to over £1 billion at constant 1983–84 prices.

46. Mrs. Currie

asked the Paymaster General if he will make a statement on the recently launched two-year YTS.

100. Mr. Haselhurst

asked the Paymaster General if he will make a statement about the implementation of a two-year YTS.

Mr. Trippier

From 1 April 1986 YTS will offer two years of vocational and work-based training for 16-year-old school leavers and one year for 17-year-olds. All entrants will have the opportunity of obtaining recognised vocational qualifications. The new expanded YTS will be a permanent part of the training scene in this country. It will be a partnership between Government, industry and trainers with the aim of producing the better qualified young workforce that industry needs.

48. Mr. Welsh

asked the Paymaster General if he has any plans to change the voluntary character of YTS.

Mr. Trippier

No.

63. Mr. Foulkes

asked the Paymaster General if he will make a statement about premium places on the two-year YTS.

68. Mr. Parry

asked the Paymaster General if he will make a statement about premium places on the two-year YTS.

77. Mr. Ron Brown

asked the Paymaster General if he will make a statement about premium places on the two-year YTS.

Mr. Trippier

Premium places have been introduced in recognition of the extra costs faced by providers of training programmes for young people with special training needs and to ensure provision in areas where sufficient employer-based places may not be available. Around 51,000 premium places will be available for entrants to YTS in 1986–87. I am confident that this level of provision will ensure that high quality places will be available to meet the needs of all eligible young people.

66. Mr. Peter Bruinvels

asked the Paymaster General how many people have completed the YTS in Leicester and the east midlands to date; and, of those, what percentage of young people found work following the successful completion of these schemes in Leicester and the east midlands; and how many young people are still in training.

Mr. Trippier

The Manpower Services Commission conducts a regular follow-up survey of young people some three months after they leave YTS. The latest survey results, which cover young people who left YTS between 1 April and 30 August 1985, are given below:

Leicester Local Authority District East Midlands
Number of YTS 'completers' 968 11,466
Percentage who found work 81 72

The latest figures available show that, at the end of December 1985, there were 2,417 young people in training in Leicester local authority district and 22,830 in the east midlands.

69. Mr. Wainwright

asked the Paymaster General how many persons currently training in the YTS are now expected to continue for a second year; and what proportion of current trainees this represents.

Mr. Trippier

At the end of December 1985, the latest date for which statistics are available, there were 293,268 young people in training on YTS; not all these would, however, be eligible for a second year since this would be available only to trainees who complete their first year of training during 1986–87.

It is expected that around 100,000 trainees will be offered a second year of training in 1986–87. This represents 34 per cent. of current trainees.

74. Mr. Sheerman

asked the Paymaster General when he will next meet the chairman of the Manpower Services Commission to discuss the two-year YTS.

91. Mr. Rogers

asked the Paymaster General when he will next meet the chairman of the Manpower Services Commission to discuss the two-year YTS.

113. Mr. Terry Lewis

asked the Paymaster General when he will next meet the chairman of the Manpower Services Commission to discuss the two-year YTS.

Mr. Trippier

I frequently discuss the progress and development of YTS with the chairman of the Manpower Services Commission.

76. Mr. Lawler

asked the Paymaster General how many 1985 school leavers are still waiting for a place on YTS.

Mr. Trippier

I regret the information is not available in the precise form requested. However I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend, the Member for Dumfries (Sir H. Monro) on 15 January, at column 567.

86. Mr. Simon Hughes

asked the Paymaster General if he has any plans to increase the sum paid to second year members of the YTS.

Mr. Trippier

No. The minimum allowance of £35 per week for second year trainees has only just been set, and applies from 1 April 1986.

98. Mr. Michie

asked the Paymaster General what proportion of YTS leavers enter paid jobs within three months (a) in the north of England and (b) in the south of England.

Mr. Trippier

The 100 per cent. follow-up of YTS leavers during the period 1 April to 30 August 1985 shows the percentage of leavers who entered paid jobs within three months in the English regions as follows:

Manpower Services Commission
Region Per cent. entering paid jobs
Northern 46.8
North West 56.8
Yorkshire and Humberside 57.7
Midlands 61.2
South West 68.8
South East 73.6
London 66.7

The April to August period may not be representative of the results for a full year.

110. Mr. Patchett

asked the Paymaster General what representations he has received on the voluntary character of the YTS.

Mr. Trippier

I have not recently received any representations on this subject. Participation in YTS is voluntary and we have no plans to change this.

111. Mr. Allen Adams

asked the Paymaster General what progress has been made in promoting the YTS.

116. Mr. Leadbitter

asked the Paymaster General what progress has been made in promoting the YTS.

Mr. Trippier

On 27 January my right hon. and noble Friend together with the chairman of the Manpower Services Commission. The Director General of the CBI and the General Secretary of the TUC launched an advertising campaign to promote the new two-year YTS. The campaign will be supplemented with other promotional material including videos and booklets.

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