HC Deb 08 April 1987 vol 114 cc294-306W
Mr. Sheerman

asked the Paymaster General what percentage of 16-year-old school leavers in Kirklees metropolitan borough council area embark on YTS courses broken down into (a) girls, (b) boys and (c) all.

Mr. Trippier

The Manpower Services Commission estimates that 62 per cent. of 16-year-old school leavers entered the YTS in Kirklees local education authority area in 1985–86. The equivalent figure for girls was 55 per cent. and boys 67 per cent.

Mr. Sheerman

asked the Paymaster General what percentage of 16-year-old (a) girls, (b) boys and (c) all school leavers attend YTS broken down by region or AMB area in each of the last four years.

Mr. Trippier

Information is not currently available in the form requested. I shall write to the hon. Member when the information has been collected and collated.

Mr. Sheerman asked the Paymaster General what percentage of 16-year-old (a) girls, (b) boys and (c) all school leavers entered YTS in the last four years.

Mr. Trippier

The table shows estimates by the Manpower Services Commission of the number of 16-year-old school leaver entrants to YTS in the years 1983–84, 1984–85 and 1985–86 expressed as a percentage of the number of 16-year-old school leavers. Figures for 1986–87 are not yet available.

1983–84 1984–85 1985–86
Boys 51 58 58
Girls 43 49 49
Total 46 53 54

Note: Not all school leavers enter the labour market directly. In 1985–86 it is estimated that around 20 per cent. of school leavers went on into further education. The figures therefore understate the proportion of 16-year-olds who leave full-time education and join YTS.

Mr. Sheerman

asked the Paymaster General what measures have been taken since 1985 to reduce the under-occupancy of youth training scheme places.

Mr. Trippier

Since the introduction of YTS in 1983 the MSC has established a well structured and organised planning process which is continually refined in the light of experience to achieve an appropriate mix of places and provision for each particular year.

Flexibility of provision, however, is an essential feature of a demand-led scheme and is always needed to meet the guarantee to unemployed 16 and 17-year-olds, to provide a choice of places for young people and to cater for the needs of special groups.

Mr. Sheerman

asked the Paymaster General what representations he has received regarding the cost of meals for YTS trainees.

Survey descriptions April 1983—October 1983 10 per cent, of those leavers notified to MSC by October 1983 April 1983—March 1984 10 per cent, of leavers in 9 selected area offices April 1984—July 1984 10 per cent, of leavers in 9 selected area offices June 1984—March 1985 15 per cent national follow-up of YTS leavers
In full-time work with the same employer 4 12 22 24
In full-lime work with a different employer 34 37 34 31
Part-time work 1 1 1 1
Full-time course 6 1 2 3
On another YTS 29 12 3 6
Doing something else 3 3 5 3
Unemployed 24 35 34 32
Percentage early leavers 84 89 60 52
Percentage response 53 53 69 63
1 This question was not asked.
2 Although no question was asked about part-time work, 1 per cent, of respondents noted their questionnaires to indicate that they were in part-time work.

Mr. Sheerman

asked the Paymaster General if he will give, from the survey of youth training scheme providers last reported to the meeting of the Manpower Services Commission's youth training board the number and proportion of managing agents who deploy, per 100 trainees (a) fewer than three, (b) three to five, (c) six to eight, (d) nine to 11, (e) 12 to 14 and (f) more than 14

Mr. Trippier

I have received two representations concerning meals for YTS trainees. The weekly training allowance payable to YTS trainees is intended to cover normal living expenses, including meals.

Mr. Sheerman

asked the Paymaster General if he will give, from the survey of the YTS providers last reported to the Manpower Services Commission's youth training board, the number and proportion of trainees who are (a) one-year trainees only, (b) apprentices or other long-term trainees, and (c) employees; and how these figures have changed since 1985.

Mr. Trippier

The information is not available in the form requested. The most recent information is from the YTS providers survey conducted in January-February 1986. This survey showed that 9 per cent. (23,800) of trainees were apprentices or long-term trainees and 14 per cent. (37,000) were employees. Some young people were apprentices with employee status.

Figures for 1985 are not available.

Mr. Sheerman

asked the Paymaster General if he will gave the proportion of youth training scheme leavers going to the following destinations for each available month of the 15 per cent. leavers sample and for each of the previous sample (a) full-time work with the same employer, (b) full-time work with a different employer, (c) part-time work, (d) full-time college or training course, (e) back to school, (f) on another youth training scheme, (g) claimant unemployed and (h) other; and if he will show for each survey: (i) the proportion of respondents who had left the scheme early and (ii) the usable percentage response rate.

Mr. Trippier

The figures are not available in the form requested.

The available results from the surveys of leavers between April 1983 and March 1985 are as follows:

full-time equivalent staff in managing, administering and providing off-the-job training for their scheme; and how these figures have changed over the last two years.

Mr. Trippier

The information is not available in precisely the form requested. The most recent survey of YTS providers conducted in January-February 1986 shows that 44 per cent. (2,400) of scheme managing agents and sponsors had up to 10, 13 per cent. (700) had between 10 and 15 and 43 per cent. (2,400) had in excess of 15 full-time equivalent staff per 100 trainees engaged in management and off-the-job training.

Comparable figures for earlier periods are not available.

Mr. Sheerman

asked the Paymaster General if he will give, from the survey of youth training scheme providers last reported to the meeting of the Manpower Services Commission's youth training board, the number and proportion of managing agents and sponsors who require prospective trainees to have one or more O-levels; and how these figures have changed over the last two years.

Mr. Trippier

The most recent survey of YTS providers conducted in January-February 1986 showed that 18 per cent. (1,000) of schemes required trainees to have a minimum of one O-level pass.

A similar survey conducted in June-August 1984 showed that 22 per cent. (1,300) of managing agents or sponsors required at least one O-level pass.

Mr. Sheerman

asked the Paymaster General if he will give, from the survey of youth training scheme leavers last reported to the meeting of the youth training board, the number and proportion of work experience placements provided in each of the industrial categories used in the survey, and in each of the occupational training facilities, together with the comparable figures for two years ago.

Mr. Trippier

The following table shows results from the most recent survey of TYS providers conducted in January-February 1986 and the previous survey conducted in June-August 1984.

Trainees receiving placements in: 1984 1986
per cent Number per cent Number
Standard Industrial Classification
0. Agriculture, forestry, fishing 2 5,300 2 5,300
1. Energy and Water 0 2 5,300
2. Extraction, metals, minerals, chemicals 4 10,600 1 2,600
3. Metal goods, engineering, vehicles 12 31,900 7 18,500
4. Other manufacture 6 15,900 7 18,500
5. Construction 5 13,300 3 7,900
6. Distribution, hotel & catering, repairs 40 106,300 23 60,700
7. Transport and Communication 1 2,600 2 5,300
8. Banking, finance etc 5 13,200 5 13,300
9. Other services 22 58,500 48 126,700
Not stated 3 8,000 0

Comparable data on occupational training families are not available from the two surveys. The table gives the proportion of workplaces covered by the 1986 providers survey with trainees in occupations classified by the training and occupations (YTS) classification. The figures sum to more than 100 per cent. as workplaces often have trainees in more than one occupation.

Percentage
Administration and clerical 44
Creative, education recreation 13
Health and community 8

Percentage
Personal service 18
Selling and storage 28
Construction 7
Electrical engineering 8
Mechanical engineering 12
Mining 1
Motor vehicle repair 12
Non-metal processing 4
Catering and food 13
Agriculture, horticultre and forestry 6
Fishing 1
Transport 3
Scientific 1
Printing 3
Clothing and textiles 2
Security services 1
Other 1
DK/NS 1
1Less than 1 per cent.

Mr. Sheerman

asked the Paymaster General to what factors he attributes the current under-occupancy of youth training scheme places.

Mr. Trippier

Flexibility in the provision and take-up of YTS places will always be required if the scheme is to meet the needs of all those who are involved. The current level of occupancy is in line with the normal annual pattern of contracting and filling of places. There were over 320,000 young people in training on YTS at the end of February 1987.

Mr. Sheerman

asked the Paymaster General if he will take steps to ensure that monitoring of youth training schemes is adequate to prevent managing agents getting into arrears with trainees' allowances.

Mr. Trippier

The Manpower Services Commission already has staff in its area offices whose purpose is to ensure good and correct practice in the spending of public money on YTS including the trainees' allowances.

These staff carry out financial monitoring visits to managing agents to ensure that they operate sound financial systems and controls. In the course of these visits, managing agents' records are examined to ensure that allowances are being paid correctly and on time. Additionally, a selection of trainees are interviewed to verify that their allowances are being paid properly.

The depth and frequency of monitoring is determined by the managing agents' past and present performance in fulfilling the terms of their contracts with the Manpower Services Commission.

Mr. Sheerman

asked the Paymaster General if he will give, from the survey of youth training scheme leavers last reported to the meeting of the youth training board, the number and proportion of managing agents and sponsors who sub-contract (i) no, (ii) some and (iii) all work experience placements to other employers and providers together with the comparable figures for two years ago.

Mr. Trippier

This information is available from the survey of YTS providers conducted in January-February 1986 and June-August 1984. The table gives the proportion and number of YTS schemes in which none, some and all of the work experience placements are subcontracted.

1984 1986
No sub-contracting per cent. 28 35
Number 1,600 1,900
Some sub-contracting per cent. 28 35
Number 1,600 1,900
All work experience sub-contracted per cent. 43 30
Number 2,500 1,700

Mr. Sheerman

asked the Paymaster General if he will give, from the survey of youth training scheme providers last reported to the meeting of the Manpower Services Commission's youth training board, the number and proportion of schemes that accept(a) all applicants, (b) more than three quarters of all applicants, (c) more than half of all applicants and (d) more than a quarter of all applicants, respectively, together with the comparable figures for two years ago.

Mr. Trippier

Information is not available in precisely the form requested. The table gives the proportion and number of schemes accepting trainees. This information is drawn from surveys of YTS providers conducted in January-February 1986 and June-August 1984.

1984 1986
Schemes accepting Per cent. No. Per cent. No.
All applicants 34 2,000 34 1,900
More than 50 per cent, of applicants 66 3,800 73 4,000
More than 20 per cent, of applicants 83 4,800 90 5,000

Mr. Sheerman

asked the Paymaster General how many young people in training on the youth training scheme are estimated to be employees on current year schemes; how

1 Accidents Annual Incidence Rate per 100.000 trainees
Period Average number in training Fatalities Major Injuries Fatalities Major Injuries
Table (a)
1 January 1984 to 31 December 1984 262,877 24 190 1.5 72.3
1 January 1985 to 31 December 1985 265,596 34 201 1.5 75.7
Table (b)
1 January 1986 to 31 December 1986 304,103 47 305 2.3 100.3
1 Manpower Services Commission accident figures for YTS are compiled on a similar basis to those prepared by the Health and Safety Executive on employed persons. However, Commission figures will include a number of accidents, in particular road traffic accidents during scheme time and accidents to trainees in educational establishments, which may not have been reportable to the executive had the individuals been employed.
2 This figure includes two road traffic accidents.
3 This figure includes one road traffic accident.
4 This figure includes two road traffic accidents.

Mr. Sheerman

asked the Paymaster General if he will publish, for each area office of the Manpower Services Commission, current accident figures for the youth training scheme in the following form (a) for the area for each of the last three available months, together with the figures for the previous year, (b) by travel-to-work area for the last available month, together with the figures for the previous year, (c) by parliamentary constituency for the last available month, together with the figures for the previous year and (d) by local authority for the last available month, together with the figures for the previous year.

these figures compare with the previous year and the year before that; and what the figures are for the two year scheme.

Mr. Trippier

The table shows the number of young people recorded by the Manpower Services Commission as employees starting on YTS in each of the years 1983–84, 1984–85 and 1985–86. No information is yet available on the number of employees starting on the two-year scheme.

Number of young people starting as employees on YTS
No.
1983–84 16,500
1984–85 22,500
1985–86 23,000

Mr. Sheerman

asked the Paymaster General if he will publish the 1986 incidence of major and fatal accidents to trainees on the youth training schemes, together with the figures for the two previous years and the figures thus far for 1987.

Mr. Tippier

The following tables set out the annual incidence rates per 100,000 trainees on YTS for fatal and major accidents. Table(a) gives figures for 1984 and 1985. Table (b) gives figures for 1986. It should be noted that the two tables cannot be directly compared in respect of major injuries. Up to 31 March 1986 major injuries 'were classified according to the severity criteria laid down in the Notification of Accidents and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1980. From 1 April 1986 major injuries are classified according to the severity criteria laid down in the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985. This has had the effect of reclassifying some accidents from the minor category into the major category. Accident figures for the first quarter of 1987 are not yet available.

Mr. Trippier

Youth training scheme accident statistics are collected quarterly and relate to areas covered by Manpower Services Commission offices. Figures for October 1985 to December 1986 are given in the following tables. Comprehensive information is not available for travel-to-work areas, parliamentary constituencies or local authority districts and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Table 1
YTS accidents 1 October to 31 December 19861
Region and area Fatalities Major injuries2 Minor injuries
Scotland
Ayrshire, Dumfries and Galloway 1 8
Central and Fife 3 8
Glasgow City 2 7
Grampian and Tayside 1 2 10
Highlands and Islands 2 2
Lanarkshire 2 10
Lothian/Borders 5 9
Renfrew, Dunbarton and Argyll 1 3
Northern
Cleveland
Durham County 3 38
Newcastle 26
South Tyne 5 25
Yorkshire and Humberside
Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees 5 19
Humberside 3 17
Leeds/North Yorkshire 1
Sheffield/Rotherham 6
Wakefield, Barnsley, Doncaster 31 5 15
North West
Cheshire 9 15
Cumbria 1 2
Greater Manchester Central 3 2
Greater Manchester East 1
Greater Manchester North 16
Lancashire 3 36
Merseyside Inner 3 15
Merseyside Outer 1 23
West Midlands
Birmingham 7 16
Coventry
Dudley/Sandwell 2 10
Staffordshire 1 7
Telford/Shropshire 8
Hereford and Worcester
Wolverhampton 1 16
East Midlands and Eastern
Derbyshire
Leicestershire 2 6
Lincolnshire
Nottinghamshire 1 6
Bedfordshire/Cambridge 1 2
Norfolk/Suffolk
Wales
Cardiff 2 32
Gwent 1 12
Swansea 1 2
Wrexham 1 2 12
South West
Avon 3 8
Devon and Cornwall 1 4
Gloucester and Wiltshire 1 1 15
Taunton/Somerset/Dorset 3 6
South East
Chatham Kent 6
Chelmsford 5 9
Fareham 3
High Wycombe 1
Horsham 2 6
Reading 2 3
London
London North
London North East 1 5
London South East 2

Region and area Fatalities Major injuries2 Minor injuries
London South and West
Totals 4 100 509

Table2
YTS accidents 1 July to 30 September 19861
Region and area Fatalities Major injuries2 Minor injuries
Scotland
Ayrshire, Dumfries and Galloway 6
Central and Fife 1 6
Glasgow City 4 6
Grampian and Tayside 3
Highlands and Islands
Lanarkshire 1 2
Lothian/Borders 1 4
Renfrew, Dunbarton and Argyll 1
Northern
Cleveland 2 5
Durham County 7 18
Newcastle 5 16
South Tyne 1 14
Yorkshire and Humberside
Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees 2 12
Humberside
Leeds/North Yorkshire 2 3
Sheffield/Rotherham 1 6
Wakefield, Barnsley, Doncaster 3 4
North West
Cheshire 3 12
Cumbria
Greater Manchester Central 2 3
Greater Manchester East 1 1
Greater Manchester North 7 14
Lancashire 3 9
Merseyside Inner 2 6
Merseyside Outer 2 14
West Midlands
Birmingham 13
Coventry 2
Dudley/Sandwell 1 1
Staffordshire 1 4
Telford/Shropshire 5
Hereford/Worcester
Wolverhampton 1 2
East Midlands and Eastern
Derbyshire 1
Leicestershire 1 5
Lincolnshire
Nottinghamshire 2 7
Bedfordshire/Cambridge 3
Norfolk/Suffolk 3 1
Wales
Cardiff 3 15
Gwent
Swansea 4 5
Wrexham 3
South West
Avon 1 2
Devon and Corwall 3 4
Gloucester and Wiltshire 2
Taunton/Somerset/Dorset 1 8
South East
Chatham Kent 2
Chelmsford 4

Region and area Fatalities Major injuries2 Minor injuries
Fareham
High Wycombe 4
Horsham
Reading 1 3
London
London North
London North East 3 5
London South East 1 1
London South and West
Totals 77 266

Table 3
YTS accidents 1 April to 30 June 19861
Region and area Fatalities Major injuries2 Minor injuries
Scotland
Ayrshire, Dumfries and Galloway 10
Central and Fife 3 11
Glasgow City 1 5
Grampian and Tayside 7
Highlands and Islands 1 2
Lanarkshire 5 12
Lothian/Borders 2 5
Renfrew. Dunbarton and Argyll 7
Northern
Cleveland 1 10
Durham County 1 19
Newcastle 15
South Tyne 1 15
Yorkshire and Humberside
Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees 1 11
Humberside 6
Leeds/North Yorkshire 3 6
Sheffield/Rotherham 1 9
Wakefield, Barnsley, Doncaster 15
North West
Cheshire 1 8
Cumbria 2 4
Greater Manchester Central 1 2
Greater Manchester East 2 5
Greater Manchester North 2 12
Lancashire 3 10
Merseyside Inner 1 11
Merscyside Outer 1 13
Midlands
Birmingham 5 4
Coventry 1 1
Derby 4 5
Dudley/Sandwell 5
Leicestershire 3
Lincoln 1 1
Nottingham 2 3
Staffordshire 5
Telford/Shropshire 4
Hereford and Worcester
Wolverhampton 7
Wales
Cardiff 1 12
Gwent 8
Swansea 4 10
Wrexham 1 2 19
South- West
Avon 1 2 7
Devon and Cornwall
Gloucester and Wiltshire 1 8

Region and area Fatalities Major injuries2 Minor injuries
Taunton/Somerset/Dorset 3
South East
Chatham Kent 13 1 2
Chelmsford 1 3
Fareham 1 5
High Wycombe 7
Horsham 2 4
Ipswich 3 7
Luton 1 5
Reading 1 3
London
London North 1
London North East 1
London South East 1 1
London South and West 2
Totals 3 68 375

Table 4
YTS accidents 1 January to 31 March 19861
Region and area Fatalities Major injuries2 Minor injuries
Scotland
Ayrshire, Dumfries and Galloway 11
Central and Fife 2 18
Glasgow City 7
Grampian and Tayside 1 5
Highlands and Islands
Lanarkshire 3 17
Lothian/Borders 2 3
Renfrew, Dunbarton and Argyll 7
Northern
Cleveland 1 9
Durham County 2 21
Newcastle 1 19
South Tyne 2 11
Yorkshire and Humberside
Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees 10
Humberside 7
Leeds/North Yorkshire 3 14
Sheffield/Rotherham 14
Wakefield, Barnsley, Doncaster 1 16
North West
Cheshire 2
Cumbria 9
Greater Manchester Central 2 8
Greater Manchester East 1 12
Greater Manchester North 2 14
Lancashire 5 15
Merseyside Inner 1 7
Merseyside Outer 16
Midlands
Birmingham 3 11
Coventry 1 17
Derby 2 10
Dudley/Sandwell 3 2
Leicestershire 1 8
Lincoln 9
Nottingham 12
Staffordshire 2 7
Telford/Shropshire/ 3 9
Hereford and Worcester
Wolverhampton/Walsall 7
Wales
Cardiff 2 16
Gwent 4
Swansea 2 12

Region and area Fatalities Major injuries2 Minor injuries
Wrexham 2 11
South West
Avon 2 9
Devon and Corwall 4
Gloucester and Wiltshire 2 7
Taunton/Somerset/Dorset 1 8
South East
Chatham Kent 4
Chelmsford 1 8
Fareham 6
High Wycombe 1 3
Horsham 4
Ipswich 1 4
Luton 3
Reading
London
London North 2
London North East 1
London South East 4
London South and West 1 1
Totals 60 474

Table 1
YTS accidents 1 October to 31 December 19851
Regions and area Fatalities Major injuries2 Minor injuries
Scotland
Ayrshire, Dumfries and Galloway 1 7
Central and Fife 1 20
Glasgow City 1 15
Grampian and Tayside 1 9
Highlands and Islands 1 2
Lanarkshire 4 9
Lothian/Borders 2 8
Renfrew, Dunbarton and Argyll 10
Northern
Cleveland 2 21
Durham County 3 31
Newcastle 1 22
South Tyne 1 16
Yorkshire and Humberside
Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees 2 14
Humberside 4 4
Leeds/North Yorkshire 1 23
Sheffield/Rotherham 1 8
Wakefield, Barnsley, Doncaster 5 12
North West
Cheshire 15
Cumbria 2
Greater Manchester Central 1 6
Greater Manchester East 4 12
Greater Manchester North 2 12

Regions and area Fatalities Major injuries2 Minor injuries
Lancashire 2 30
Merseyside Inner 3 12
Merseyside Outer 16
Midlands
Birmingham 22
Coventry 1 11
Derby 15
Dudley/Sandwell 4
Leicestershire 14
Lincoln 8
Nottingham 12
Staffordshire 4 15
Telford/Shropshire 9
Hereford and Worcester
Wolverhampton/ 4
Wales
Cardiff 3 19
Gwent 1 5
Swansea 8
Wrexham 9
South West
Avon 2 7
Devon and Cornwall 1 7
Gloucester and Wiltshire 13
Taunton/Somerset/Dorset 1 6
South East
Chatham Kent 1 5
Chelmsford 12
Fareham 2 4
High Wycombe 2 2
Horsham 10
Ipswich 1 5
Luton 2
Reading 1 3
London
London North 1 1
London North East 2 2
London South East 5
London South and West 1 2
Totals 67 577
1 Manpower Services Commission (MSC) accident figures for YTS are compiled on a similar basis to those prepared by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) on employed persons. However, MSC figures will include a number of accidents, in particular road traffic accidents during scheme time and accidents to trainees in educational establishments, which may not have been reportable to the HSE had the individuals been employed.
2 Up to 31 March 1986 major injuries were classified according to the severity criteria laid down in the Notification of Accidents and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1980. From 1 April 1986 major injuries were classified according to the severity criteria laid down in the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985.
3 These figures are road traffic accidents.

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