§ Mr. MansTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement about the future of the loan guarantee scheme.
§ Mr. CopeI have recently announced the continuation of the loan guarantee scheme which was due to end on 31 March this year. In addition, the maximum loan available will be increased from £75,000 to £100,000.
There continues to be a demand for the LGS from firms that could not otherwise raise finance. On average in 1988, 180 loans per month were authorised. The survival rates of LGS borrowers have improved throughout the period that it has operated. We shall continue to keep under review the level of use of the scheme and whether firms could have obtained finance without using the LGS.
§ Mr. LeightonTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of technical and vocational education initiative pupils stay on until 18 years of age.
§ Mr. CopeIn England and Wales, 21 per cent. of pupils who entered TVEI pilot projects stayed on until 18 in 1987; and 22 per cent. in 1988. In Scotland, where many pupils complete their highers at the age of 17, 13 per cent. of pupils stayed on until 18 in 1988.