§ Mr. Wattsasked the Paymaster General whether the Government's undertaking that all unemployed minimum age school leavers would be offered a suitable two-year place in YTS by Christmas 1986 has been met; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. TrippierI am very pleased to say that the Government's undertaking has been effectively met in this the first year of two-year YTS as it was in the three years during which the one-year youth training scheme was in operation. There are around 347,000 trainees currently on YTS and on 5 January only 2,376 young people were waiting for the offer of a place. The comparable figures for 1985, 1984 and 1983 were 2.290, 3,853 and 4,320 respectively.
Young people have been quick to grasp the opportunities which two-year YTS affords them to obtain high quality training leading to recognised vocational qualifications. The fact that we are now able to guarantee all unemployed minimum age school leavers the offer of a two-year place is a tremendous achievement and a great credit to the Manpower Services Commission and all others involved.