HC Deb 28 February 1995 vol 255 cc521-2W
Mr. Blunkett

To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many people work in the youth service unit.

Mr. Boswell

The youth service unit of the Department for Education at present comprises 13 members of staff.

Mr. Blunkett

To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what was the work programme of the youth service unit for 1994–95;

(2) what is the proposed work programme of the youth service unit for 1995–96.

Mr. Boswell

In addition to normal official duties, including policy advice to Ministers, the activities of officials in the Department's youth service unit include the followingadministration of relevant DFE grants, including grants to the National Youth Agency, the youth exchange centre, and 60 national voluntary youth organisations; co-ordination within Whitehall of the Government's interest in youth issues in the European Union and the Council of Europe. including the proposed youth for Europe III programme, and representation of United Kingdom interests at meetings; commissioning or sponsoring national programmes and studies including the GEST youth action scheme and its national evaluation, the GEST activity on the training and youth and community workers, and a survey of youth service participation carried out as part of the OPCS omnibus survey; co-ordination of the Department for Education's policy on volunteering; liaison with other Government Departments on issues relevant to the youth service, including crime prevention and health education; co-ordination with the Department of Employment of national consultations on the scope for developing NVQ standards for youth and community work; policy review of the National Youth Agency and review of the administration of grants to national voluntary youth organisations.