2.56 p.m.
My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
The Question was as follows:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will consider allowing candidates for the Youth Opportunities Programme who work in agriculture, horticulture, fish-rearing, gamekeeping or similar country-based employment to continue for more than six months so that they can take advantage of the changing seasons.
My Lords, I am advised by the Manpower Services Commission which is responsible for operating the Youth Opportunities Programme that there are no plans to extend the length of work experience on employers' premises schemes in agriculture and other allied industries beyond six months. The main purpose of a work experience scheme is to provide unemployed young people with a realistic introduction to working life and this can normally be satisfactorily completed within six months.
My Lords, perhaps I should declare an interest, in that I have a young man from the Youth Opportunities Programme whose licence has been extended after considerable discussion with the Department of Employment. Is it not possible for Her Majesty's Government to realise that this flexibility does exist and that it is important, since the good God made the world go round in a year, not in six months? The rules which govern engineering and industries like it obviously are not time consuming, whereas agriculture, forestry, et cetera, are.
My Lords, we are all very grateful for the help which my noble friend gives to the Youth Opportunities Scheme. I hope that my noble friend and the House noted that in my reply I said that work experience on employers' premises schemes can normally be satisfactorily completed within six months. But there are of course exceptions. I am advised that in all cases flexibility is encouraged by the department. I hope this is so in the cases which have been mentioned by my noble friend. We all realise that, depending upon when a young person starts work in an agricultural environment, he may cover some of the seasons, while others he may not.
My Lords, in considering the question of opportunities for the young, would the noble Lord keep in mind the position of the National Youth Orchestra which is threatened with closure owing to financial difficulties?
My Lords, that is possibly a trifle far from agriculture. However, I shall certainly endeavour to convey the noble Lord's comments to my right honourable friend, given the pipes of Pan among shepherd boys.