HC Deb 15 October 1996 vol 282 cc866-7W
Mr. Rowlands

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate his Department has made of the average cost of a national vocational qualification acquired through youth training within each of the training and enterprise councils in Wales. [40484]

Mr. Jonathan Evans

The following table gives the estimated apportionment of costs, as between national vocational qualifications levels 1 to 4, incurred by the Welsh Office as a result of its contracts with the respective training and enterprise councils in Wales in 1995–96.

Average cost of a national vocational qualification
TEC Average—cost per NVQ 1995–96(£)
NVQ1 NVQ2 NVQ3 NVQ4
Mid Glamorgan TEC 4,285 3,658 7,943 8,544
Gwent TEC 3,338 2,604 5,943 6,227
West Wales TEC 3,309 3,022 6,331 6,944
South Glamorgan TEC 4,768 3,709 8,477 8,874
Powys TEC 3,801 2,997 6,798 7,145
Targed 2,983 2,448 5,430 5,775
North East Wales TEC 3,217 2,176 5,393 5,416
Wales 3,751 3,009 6,760 7,141

Mr. Rowlands

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate his Department has made of the percentage and number of those aged 19 who have not achieved a national vocational qualification at level 2 or a comparable educational qualification. [40487]

Mr. Evans

The labour force survey for winter 1995–96 estimated that 36,000 or 39 per cent. of 19 to 21-year-olds in Wales had not achieved a national vocational qualification at level 2 or a comparable educational qualification. No reliable figures are available for 19-year-olds separately.

Mr. Rowlands

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate his Department has made of the amount offered per training week within the youth training scheme by each training and enterprise council; and what proportion of that amount is spent on training. [40485]

Mr. Evans

The Welsh Office does not make estimates of the prices offered by each of the training and enterprise councils in Wales to training providers. The Department contracts with each TEC for a range of services at prices which reflect the nature and volume of service to be provided and take account of the previous year's outturn performance in terms of comparative unit costs. The TECs in turn contract with training providers and other suppliers at prices which reflect their own commercial judgment as to appropriate levels. These may be above or below those paid by the Department.