asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the cost to public funds of maintaining a 16 or 17-year-old person on the youth opportunities programme, assuming that he or she is living in a family of four with a household income, excluding youth opportunities programme allowances, of £6,000.

In 1981–82 the gross cost to public funds per trainee per week on the youth opportunities programme was £40–50. This cost is the same for YOP trainees of all ages and is not related to household income. The cost to public funds, net of benefit savings and taking account of additional Exchequer revenues, could be affected by the nature of household income, but on average is around £24 a week.