asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what improved educational provision he is making for the unemployed 16 to 19year-olds in the immediate future.

The provision of education is the responsibility of the local education authorities and of the institutions which they maintain. Colleges of further education are already making available a variety of courses for unemployed young people, including the further education component in many schemes initiated by the Manpower Services Commission as part of the youth opportunities programme. I am confident that the education service will continue to offer unemployed young people who want to continue their education the facilities to do so.