§ Mr. Wainwrightasked the Paymaster General if he will consider amending the regulations for the new workers scheme to prevent an employer from substituting a subsidised worker by another at the end of 52 weeks.
§ Mr. LangWe recognise that under any scheme where we have many thousands of employers participating there is the possibility of some employers not retaining an employee beyond the support period of the scheme. However, our experience of the young workers scheme has been that the majority of young people remain with their employer once support under the scheme has ended. We have no reason to think tha the number of young people kept on after a period of new workers scheme support will be significantly different.
§ Mr. Wainwrightasked the Paymaster General what consideration he has given to the proposed amendment to rule (e) of the new workers scheme put forward to him by the Institute of Careers Officers.
§ Mr. LangA condition of the new workers scheme is that on the day the young person starts employment with the employer making the application for new workers scheme support, he or she must be unable to find a suitable YTS continuation place.
As I have advised the Institute of Careers Officers, the new workers scheme is primarily aimed at 18 to 20-yearolds who are no longer eligible for YTS. However, those young people still eligible but who are not able to find a suitable YTS continuation place may be eligible for new workers scheme, because they are no longer able to take advantage of YTS. The careers service has been issued with the rules of the scheme and general guidance. It is for the careers service and jobcentres to determine, dependent on local circumstances, what is or is not suitable for a particular individual.