asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people covered by the undertaking to long-term unemployed young people had not been made an offer of a place on a youth opportunities programme scheme by the date of the count in March in Merseyside, Strathclyde, Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Sunderland, Middlesbrough and Swansea; and when he expects that all will have received an offer.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the undertaking to long-term unemployed young people is monitored on a quarterly basis. The latest available statistics relate to the count on 10 January 1980 and the numbers of young people awaiting an offer on that date in the listed special programmes areas were:

Birmingham	…	…	…	122
Merseyside	…	…	…	734
Middlesbrough		…	…	132
Strathclyde*	…	…	…	812
Sunderland	…	…	…	192
Swansea	…	…	…	110
Wolverhampton		…	…	210
* excludes Careers Service figures.

The present indications are that by 10 April 1980, the concluding count date, the undertaking will have been met in most areas. However, the number of young people who remain on the register having refused the offer of a suitable place on the programme may be relatively high.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people, covered by the undertaking to 1979 school leavers, had not been made an offer of a place on the youth opportunities programme by the date of the March count in Birmingham, Nottingham, Wolverhampton, Middlesbrough, Sunderland, Merseyside, Manchester, Horsham, Ipswich, Bristol, Exeter, Cardiff, Hull, Leeds and Sheffield; and whether they will have received an offer by Easter.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the latest available statistics relating to the school leaver undertaking refer to the count on 14 February 1980. The numbers of young people awaiting an offer on that day in listed special programmes areas were:

Birmingham	…	…	487
Bristol	…	…	199
Cardiff	…	…	351
Exeter	…	…	256
Horsham	…	…	103
Hull	…	…	255
Ipswich	…	…	166
Leeds	…	…	303
Manchester	…	…	271
Merseyside	…	…	1,081
Middlesbrough	…	…	261
Nottingham	…	…	268
Sheffield	…	…	413
Sunderland	…	…	438
Wolverhampton	…	…	493

The present indications are that by 10 April, the concluding count date, the undertaking will have been discharged fully in nearly all areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he intends to announce the launch of the service away from home scheme funded under the youth opportunities programme; and whether he will make a statement.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the service away from home scheme is sponsored by community service volunteers under the youth opportunities programme. I understand that the scheme is funded on a pilot basis for one year and began in August 1979. The scheme is being closely evaluated and a decision on its future will be made before the expiry date of the pilot period.