HC Deb 02 November 1988 vol 139 cc660-2W
Ms. Short

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if a young person in receipt of the YTS bridging allowance may undertake voluntary work while they are awaiting a placement on YTS.

Mr. Cope

Yes, provided a young person is available for interviews when required and is prepared to start on a YTS course at any time.

Ms. Short

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish the latest results from the 100 per cent. follow up survey of YTS leavers, giving the young people's full responses to the question of "what are you doing now?"

Mr. Cope

The latest results from the 100 per cent. follow-up survey of YTS leavers in the period May 1986 to April 1988 are as follows:

Per cent.
In a job 60.3
of which
with same employer 25.2
with a different employer 31.6
part time job 3.5
Unemployed 21.3
On another YTS scheme 11.3
On a full time course 3.3
Doing something else 3.2
Not answered 0.5

Ms. Short

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether young people who register for the YTS bridging allowance are required to be available for work; and whether they have to complete the UB671 form and satisfy all the availability for work conditions applied to unemployed adults.

Mr. Cope

No. Young people who apply for the YTS bridging allowance are required to complete form BA1 undertaking that they are prepared to accept an offer of a place on YTS. They are free to look for work while receiving the allowance.

Mr. Madden

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many YTS places are currently vacant in the Bradford travel-to-work area; and what action is being taken to provide YTS places in the most popular training areas, such as electronics, vehicle repair and the caring professions.

Mr. Cope

On 13 October, there were 866 YTS places vacant in the Bradford travel-to-work area. There are currently two information technology centres based in Bradford and Shipley. There are three large schemes which specifically cover vehicle maintenance. There is also sufficient provision available to meet different demands in the caring professions, including child care and care of the elderly.

Mr. Madden

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people, aged 16 and 17 years, who left school in Bradford in the current year, he estimates(a) have accepted a YTS place and (b) obtained employment.

Mr. Cope

At 13 October, it is provisionally estimated that approximately 1,900 school leavers in Bradford have entered YTS in 1988 and 1,800 have gained employment.

Mr. Madden

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people, aged 16 and 17 years, who left school in Bradford in the current year, who have not obtained a YTS place or employment, are not in receipt of benefit or other income.

Mr. Cope

This information is not available.

Mr. Fatchett

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will publish the expected on cost of YTS trainee allowances for 16 and 17-year-olds in the current financial year.

Mr. Cope

[holding answer Tuesday 1 November]: Grants of public funds to YTS managing agents are intended as a contribution to the overall costs of running YTS schemes. Employers and work experience providers also contribute to the costs of the scheme. It is therefore not possible to answer the question in this form. The current YTS allowances are £29.50 for first-year trainees and £35 for second-year trainees.