§ Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what the levels of the 1985 YTS allowance 47W for first and second-year trainees would have been had it risen annually in line with (a) the retail prices index, (b) average earnings and (c) the average yearly rate of inflation.
§ Mr. CopeThe two-year YTS was introduced in April 1986, at which date the YTS allowances were set at £27.30 per week for first year trainees and £35 per week for second year trainees. If the allowances had been increased in line with changes in the retail price index they would have been £31.25 and £40.07 respectively in February 1989. If adjusted in line with increases in the average earnings index, the allowances would have been £33.57 and £43.04 respectively in January 1989. Adjusting the allowance for the rate of inflation is equivalent to the adjustment made for changes in the retail price index. Many trainees receive more than the minimum level of the trainee allowance.