asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied with the system of ex gratia payments currently made by the Manpower Services Commission for industrial injury claims by recruits to the work experience scheme.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that under its youth opportunities programme it has agreed to make payments to young persons suffering injury on work experience schemes equivalent to the sums they would be entitled to receive under the industrial injuries scheme. I have no reason to believe that the system is operating unfairly.