HC Deb 07 July 1987 vol 119 cc83-4W
59. Mr. Boyes

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will conduct a full investigation into the quality of off-the-job education being provided by YTS.

Mr. Cope

No. The youth training board, which includes representatives of the TUC, CBI, local authorities and the education service, is directly involved in ensuring quality on YTS. The new training standards advisory service is undertaking comprehensive quality audits of YTS managing agents and provides expert advice and guidance on quality matters, including the off-the-job training and education provided on YTS. Furthermore, all providers of YTS programmes have had to apply to become approved training organisations and their arrangements for off-the-job training and education are scrutinised as part of the approval process.

60. Mr. Sheerman

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has had on the quality of off-the-job education provided by YTS.

Mr. Cope

We have had four representations over the past 18 months on this subject. One of those concerned the standard of off-the-job training and education provided by YTS, and the remaining three concerned the length of the off-the-job training period.

61. Ms. Quin

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he is taking to ensure high standards of off-the-job education for YTS trainees.

Mr. Cope

Potential managing agents for YTS schemes are required to set out in detail their proposals for training including the length and content of the off-the-job training and education that young people will receive. The formal contract between the MSC and each managing agent refers to the agreements reached on these proposals. Thereafter, MSC staff monitor the quality of training provided. To strengthen these arrangements a new training standards advisory service became operational in April 1987. Furthermore, the MSC requires all providers of training to apply to become approved training organisations. Only organisations which gain such status will be able to take part in YTS.