HC Deb 21 February 1990 vol 167 cc831-2W
Mr. Alfred Morris

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if the funding arrangements for youth training will include incentives to ensure quality training for young people with special needs; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Nicholls

Youth training funding arrangements will include incentives to ensure quality training for young people with special needs.

Each young person identified as having special training needs will have an endorsement certificate which will be lodged with the training provider. The provider will then be obliged by contract to provide appropriate training and the Training Agency's area office or the training and enterprise council (local enterprise company in Scotland) will have regard to that in determining the appropriate funding levels.

In addition, at least 10 per cent. of each TEC's youth training budget will be paid on qualifications achieved. Those who gain national vocational qualifications (NVQs) at level II (or equivalent as determined by the Training Agency) will count towards TECs' output-related funding. In addition, level I (or equivalent) NVQs gained by young people with particularly severe special training needs will also count.

TECs will also be eligible for a 2 per cent. performance bonus. Criteria for earning this will include NVQs as for output-related funding, the percentage of starts on youth training of young people with disabilities, members of ethnic minority groups and, where appropriate, people from the inner cities.

Mr. Alfred Morris

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what arrangements will be made to ensure that the interests and views of organisations and agencies providing training for young people with special needs are represented on training and enterprise councils; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Eggar

Each training and enterprise council (TEC) will be expected to consult and work closely with appropriate organisations and agencies to ensure that the needs of disadvantaged young people in their area are met. A number of TECs are establishing sub-groups to take account of different interests in the community.

Mr. Alfred Morris

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received from Barnardo's about employment and training of young people with a mental handicap; what reply he has given; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Nicholls

My Department received representations from Barnardos last year raising a number of issues about the employment and training of young people with special needs, particularly in relation to the setting up of training and enterprise councils (TECs).

My Department gave assurances that TECs will be expected to set out in their plans proposals on how they intend to provide for young people with special needs. These proposals will be looked at very carefully before plans are approved.