HC Deb 23 April 1990 vol 171 cc100-1W
Mr. McLeish

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total expenditure in both cash and real terms on youth training excluding community industry in each of the years 1987–88 to 1989–90 and the planned expenditure in each of the years 1990–91, 1991–92 and 1992–93 for Great Britain and each of the standard regions.

Mr. Nicholls

Expenditure on YTS and planned expenditure on youth training for Great Britain are as follows:

Column 1 Column 2
Real Prices Cash Prices
£ million £ million
1987–88 1,137.7 987.8
1988–89 1,063.4 993.8
1989–90 983.0 983.0
1990–91 836.0 878.2
1991–92 728.4 778.5
1992–93 679.5 732.8

The figures shown in column 1 are at constant (estimated) 1989–90 prices and were calculated by use of the GDP deflator index shown in the Chancellor's autumn statement.

The figures exclude community industry (included under the heading "Youth Training" in the public expenditure White Paper), evaluation, research and development and marketing.

This information is not available by standard regions.

Mr. McLeish

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list all of the changes to youth training for the year 1990–91 and the implications for(a) the number of planned entrants, (b) the level of expenditure, (c) the duration of trainee places and (d) the provision for trainees with special needs.

Mr. Nicholls

Youth training will replace YTS nationally from 29 May. Compared with YTS, the main changes areexcept for young people with special difficulties, all young people on the programme are to be offered training programmes capable of securing for them qualifications at or equivalent to the second level of qualifications in the framework established by the National Council for Vocational Qualifications; a greater emphasis on training at craft and technician levels; improved job finding; greater flexibility concerning eligibility, duration of training and funding of training providers.

Youth training will, of course, be delivered by the training and enterprise councils as they come into operation. In 1990–91, 260,000 young people are expected to join youth training. Planned Exchequer funding is set at £907 million in 1990–91—this figure includes community industry expenditure.

Duration of training will be more flexible than was the case with YTS and will depend upon the time needed by the young person to acquire the skills and the recognised vocational qualifications which are contained in the young person's training plan.

Training and enterprise councils will be expected to ensure that the Government's guarantee of a suitable training place for every school leaver without a job continues to be met. The councils will also be expected to ensure suitable, quality training provision for young people who have disabilities or other significant training needs.