§ Mr. Martyn JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what Government training schemes available for(a) school leavers, (b) people unemployed, (c) people unemployed for over six months but under 12 months, (d) people unemployed for over 12 months but under two years and (e) people unemployed for over two years include a significant proportion of training in horticultural skills, stating for each the number of places available and what percentage that is of the total number of places offered on other available schemes; and if she will make a statement. [1680]
§ Mr. PaiceTraining and enterprise councils operate three main programmes on behalf of the Department for Education and Employment. The training delivered through each of these is geared to local labour market needs. Youth training offers the opportunity for 16 and 17-year-olds to receive training leading to a recognised vocational qualification of at least NVQ level 2 or equivalent. Modern apprenticeships are a similar scheme with an upper age limit of 25 in which to complete the programme. Training for work is aimed at people between the ages of 18 and 63 who have been unemployed for six months or more, although other disadvantaged groups, for example, people with disabilities and people needing literacy or numeracy training, have immediate eligibility regardless of the length of unemployment. From these programmes, the following figures are given:
England and Wales April to June 1996 Start a in horticultural trades Percentage of all starts Youth training 260 1 Training for work 640 2 Modern apprenticeships 20 Less than 1 Source:
YT, TfW. MA Starts databases.
§ Mr. JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what research she has(a) evaluated and (b) commissioned regarding the educational value of horticulture; and if she will make a statement; [1593]
(2) what research she has (a) evaluated and (b) commissioned regarding training schemes for teaching organic methods of horticulture; and if she will make a statement. [1657]