HC Deb 20 July 1988 vol 137 c619W
Mr. Lewis

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what exemption criteria exist for entry into the Manpower Services Commission initial training scheme for young people on day care programmes which are a condition of a supervision order, ordered by the courts as an alternative to a custodial sentence.

Mr. Cope

All young people under the age of 18 are covered by the Government's guarantee of a place on the youth training schme if they want one. This includes those who are subject to a supervision order, provided that the conditions of such an order do not prevent them from taking up a YTS place. The Training Commission's planned initial training scheme will be part of YTS and as such participation will be voluntary. However it will be limited to young people who show a clear need for special preparatory training and assessment prior to going onto a full YTS programme.

Mr. Lewis

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list in theOfficial Report all the exempted categories of persons in the Manpower Services Commission initial training scheme.

Mr. Cope

The Training Commission is planning to introdue an initial training scheme within the youth training scheme. Initial training is not intended to be a facility open to all young people generally, but to provide short duration training and assessment for those who are eligible for YTS but who need help to overcome particular difficulties or problems before they go onto the full scheme.