HC Deb 18 December 1987 vol 124 cc827-8W
Miss Mowlam

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many(a) major and (b) minor accidents have occurred in the last five years to participants on YTS schemes in Cleveland.

Mr. Cope

Between 1 April 1983 and 30 September 1987 there were 28 major and 208 minor accidents to YTS trainees in the Cleveland area. Independent research into accidents on YTS has shown that the injury rate for YTS trainees in no higher than the rate for employed young people.

MSC accident figures for YTS have been compiled on a similar basis to those prepared by the Health and Safety Executive for employed people. However, the Commission's figures include a number of accidents, in particular road traffic accidents during scheme time and accidents to trainees in education establishments, which may not have been reportable to the executive had the individuals been employed.

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 have been classified according to the severity criteria laid down in the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurences Regulations 1985.

Miss Mowlam

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many places are currently available for males and females on YTS schemes; how many are estimated to be available to meet demand for YTS in summer 1988; and if he will break these figures down by local authority and region.

Mr. Cope

On 31 October 1987, there were approximately 540,000 available YTS places open to young people of either sex, of which 431,000 were filled. No local or regional breakdown for 1988 is yet available but the Government have provided additional resources for YTS to enable a further 27,000 places to be made available nationally.

Mr. Michael Brown

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment in what circumstances 16 and l7-year-olds on the two-year YTS schemes are required to work on Christmas day; and whether, in those circumstances, they are entitled to overtime payments and a day off in lieu.

Mr. Cope

All YTS trainees are entitled to bank and public holidays or to paid time off in lieu. Trainees should be asked to attend on Christmas day only when regular employees do so and as part of the normal practice of the organisation. Any payments to trainees additional to the standard YTS allowance are at the discretion of training providers.