Youth Training (Hansard, 12 January 1998)

§ Mr. Etherington
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many young people in Sunderland in receipt of youth training bridging allowance receive jobseeker's allowance. [22051]
75W

§ Dr. Howells
No young person in Sunderland was in receipt of both allowances in the week ending 5 December, the latest period for which data are available.

§ Mr. Etherington
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment which TECs have set(a) higher minimum levels of training allowance for non-employed trainees than the minimum permitted and (b) more than the 19.5 days per annum holiday; and if he will make a statement. [22047]

§ Dr. Howells
TECs are free to set allowances above the minimum and to determine holiday entitlements for non-employed trainees in conjunction with training providers. Information of TEC practice in this connection is not held centrally.

§ Mr. Etherington
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to increase the minimum weekly training allowance for youth training. [22046]

§ Dr. Howells
The level of training allowance is under review.

§ Mr. Etherington
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what would be the present minimum weekly training allowance for youth training if it had been uprated in line with inflation since 1990. [22049]

§ Dr. Howells
The present minimum weekly training allowance, which is frequently supplemented by employers, would be £40.69 for 16-year-olds and £47.47 for 17-year-olds and above if it had been uprated in line with inflation since 1990.

§ Mr. Etherington
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the numbers and percentages of young people in Sunderland who are participating in youth training and the percentage who are receiving more than the minimum allowance from employers or training providers. [22050]

§ Dr. Howells
Around 3,000 young people in Sunderland are currently participating in work-based training for young people, representing about 40 per cent. of the 16 to 17-year-old population. Information on those who are receiving more than the minimum allowance in Sunderland is not available. Nationally, around two-thirds of young people in work-based training receive a wage or an allowance topped up above the minimum.