To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to review the guarantee that all 16-year-olds with special needs in the north-west region will be offered a place if they so wish on any available youth training scheme.

The YT guarantee assures young people, whether they have special training needs or not, the offer of a suitable training place. The Department's regional directors are in close touch with every training and enterprise council about the guarantee position in its area. Where necessary, the Government have offered TECs additional support so that they can continue to meet the guarantee.