§ Lady Olga MaitlandTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment she has made of the risks of 18-year-olds slipping through the net between what is available under YTS and the options available under the various adult training and employment schemes.
§ Mr. McLoughlinThere should be no risk of 18-year-olds missing out on training or employment measures. Those who leave full time education are immediately eligible for YT, and those who have been unemployed for six months or more are guaranteed appropriate support under the range of provision for unemployed adults.
§ Lady Olga MaitlandTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps she is taking to establish a418W simplified and co-ordinated information service targeted at 17 to 18-year-olds following merger of the employment action and employment training schemes; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. McLoughlinComprehensive information, advice and guidance to 17 and 18-year-olds is provided by local education authority careers services. They will provide information on the new training for work arrangements, as they do for the range of training programmes. Information will also be available from the Employment Service, athough it will mainly deal directly with those 18-year-olds who might be eligible for adult programmes through being unemployed for six months or more.