HC Deb 02 June 1992 vol 208 cc468-9W
Mr. Peter Bottomley

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people aged 16 and 17 years have applied for youth training; and how many have not been given a youth training place at once in each training and enterprise council area.

Mr. McLoughlin

The information is not available in the form requested.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what income a 16 or 17-year-old receives on youth training, in any week, waiting for a youth training place; how many people aged 16 or 17 years waiting for a youth training place have been receiving income or income support; and how soon after applying for youth training a 16 or 17-year-old can receive income while waiting for a place to become available.

Mr. McLoughlin

The following arrangements apply:

  1. (i) A young person on youth training (YT) in employed status will receive a wage at a level agreed with the employer.
  2. (ii) A non-employed trainee must receive at least £29.50 per week if under 17 years old and £35 per week if 17 or over.
  3. (iii) A young person waiting for YT may either have a place booked and be waiting to take it up, or may be seeking the offer of a place. In either case that young person, if under 18 years of age, may be eligible for a YT bridging allowance of £15 per week from the 469 Employment Service for up to eight weeks in any 12 month period or, if they run the risk of severe hardship, they may be eligible to receive income support through the severe hardship provision.
  4. (iv) Even if they are not eligible for any of the payments in (iii) above, young people waiting for YT may still receive income from a variety of sources. The number of young people waiting for YT who have an income of their own cannot therefore be estimated accurately.
  5. (v) Young people eligible for bridging allowance (except for some special groups) cannot start receiving bridging allowance until they have left a previous job or YT place, made an application, and waited for their first girocheque payment.
  6. (vi) Young persons can secure income support (including severe hardship payments) as soon as they satisfy the eligibility criteria. They may be able to secure assistance through a crisis loan until regular payments commence.