§ 64. Mr. WallaceTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he has any plans to provide income support to those aged 16 to 17 years who are unable to gain employment or a vacancy on YTS through no fault of their own.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardThere is no need for a young person aged 16 to 17 to be without money. Young people have the positive options of remaining in education, getting a job or joining the YTS. If they are unable to obtain employment then the offer of a YTS place is guaranteed. There are sufficient YTS places throughout the country for all who want one.
Income support is available to vulnerable groups, such as lone parents and the disabled. There is also the discretionary provision which enables income support to be paid in cases of severe hardship.
We continue to monitor the situation. The legislative changes introduced in July 1989 and the administrative improvements announced in November demonstrate our willingness to respond when a need arises, as did my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's undertaking to the Social Services Committee on 31 January to look at the way the system works for young women who are pregnant.