§ 25. Mr. Robert B. JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a further statement on the progress of YTS.
§ Mr. NichollsAt the end of January 1988 some 413,000 young people were receiving high-quality training on YTS. Of those young people who left YTS schemes between April 1986 and 1987,74 per cent. went into work or further education and training. This is welcome and shows that YTS is now firmly established as a standard method of recruitment and training for many employers.
531W
§ 81. Mr. CarringtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many 16 and 17-year-olds are currently undertaking training on the YTS; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. CopeThere were some 413,000 young people on YTS at the end of January 1988. Of these, 238,000 were 16-year-old school leavers in the first year of a two-year training programme, 151,000 were 16-year-old school leavers in the second year and 24,000 were 17-year-old school leavers on a one-year training programme. The large number of young people now well into their second year of training in the new two-year programme shows significant progress towards ensuring that all young people under 18 years of age obtain qualifications relevant to work.
§ 83. Mr. George HowarthTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to raise standards of training at the YTS; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. CopeFrom April, all YTS providers will have to meet the high standards required of approved training organisations. The Manpower Services Commission has published its priorities for quality development in YTS and is working with these approved organisations to raise standards still further. Meanwhile the Training Standards Advisory Service has begun its programme of carrying out full inspections of all YTS schemes on the ground. A further assurance of quality is the commitment to have vocational qualifications approved by the National Council for Vocational Qualifications in all YTS schemes.