§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what response he has made to the Youth Aid and Barnardo's report of 1993, a copy of which has been sent to him.
§ Mr. Roger EvansSince publication of the report, we have substantially improved access to youth training; the number of young people awaiting a youth training place for eight weeks or more has dropped significantly to around 2,400. Our policy remains one of encouraging young people to take up education, work or training, not dependency on benefits, although income support remains available to young people at risk of severe hardship.