§ Mr. SteinbergTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many children aged(a) 16, (b) 17, (c) 18 and (d) 19 years in receipt of child benefit attend (i) school, (ii) sixth form college, (iii) tertiary college, (iv) further education college and (v) the youth training scheme. [30139]
§ Mr. Burt[pursuant to his reply, 22 May 1996, Official Report, c. 290]: The information that I gave regarding the number of 17-year-olds undergoing youth training was incorrect. The correct information is as follows.
The information is not available in the format requested. Child benefit data are not available on the nature of the education being undertaken, and education data have no regard to the receipt or otherwise of child benefit. The figures are therefore not directly comparable. However, child benefit is not payable for any young person undergoing a youth training course, and all 857W entitlement ceases at the 19th birthday. Available data on the number of 16, 17 and 18-year-olds for whom child benefit is paid, and the number in education and training are in the tables:
Number of children for whom child benefit is paid Number 16 year olds 577,100 17 year olds 400,700 18 year olds 177,600
Educational establishments attended by 16 to 18-year-olds 16-year-olds 17-year-olds 18-year-olds Schools 246,000 175,000 19,000 Sixth form colleges 53,000 40,000 10,000 Tertiary colleges 35,000 30,000 13,000 Further education 125,000 112,000 74,000 Youth training 69,000 76,000 40,000