§ Mr. McLeishTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has received any representations about the youth training guarantees from local enterprise councils.
§ Mr. Allan StewartScottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise are responsible for delivering the Government's youth training guarantee in their areas. If 865W any one of the local enterprise companies with which these bodies contract were concerned about the delivery of the youth training guarantee in its area it would bring that concern to the attention of either Scottish Enterprise or Highlands and Islands Enterprise as appropriate. However, neither Scottish Enterprise nor Highlands and Islands Enterprise has suggested to my right hon. Friend that it doubts its ability to ensure that the guarantee is met.
§ Mr. McLeishTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give, as per the requirement set out in the local enterprise council operating agreement, the number of youth training starts and the number of youth training trainees in training at the end of the four-weekly period as set out in the schedule of management information(a) for the most recent period for which information is available and (b) for local enterprise councils.
§ Mr. Allan StewartLocal enterprise company operating contracts are contracts between individual local enterprise companies and Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise as appropriate. These contracts require local enterprise companies to deliver management information to these bodies; not to my right hon. Friend. I have therefore asked the chairmen of both bodies to write to the hon. Member.
§ Mr. McLeishTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the latest figure for participants in youth training.
§ Mr. Allan StewartIn Scotland responsibility for the delivery of youth training rests with Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. I have asked the chairmen of these bodies to write to the hon. Member with the information he has requested.