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Dept for Education and Employment

Answer

Mr. Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what study his Department has undertaken of possible promotional usage of the European Voluntary Service for Young People; what steps his Department will take to ensure that the activities involved do not substitute for existing paid jobs; and if the minimum wage will apply to the service. [18835] Dr. Howells: I have been asked to reply. I attended the European Council of Youth Ministers in Luxembourg on 28 October, at which a common position was reached on the Commission's draft proposal for a European Voluntary Service for Young People, subject to a UK Parliamentary Scrutiny Reserve. I refer the hon. member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Hemsworth (Mr. Trickett) on 19 November, Official Report, column 186. The Commission's proposal states specifically that the activities undertaken by young people under this programme will in no way replace potential or existing paid jobs; the other points of detail raised will be addressed with other Member States when the precise arrangements for the Programme are being discussed over the next few months. The Government is committed to seeing this programme under way as early as possible. The Government agrees with Article 1(2) of the draft proposal. Officers of the Department have had general discussions with the British Youth Council about this programme, and we will draw on our experience of the pilot phase in determining the exact arrangements for the new EVS Programme.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

18835; 302 c147-8W

Session

1997-98

Subjects

EU action Minimum wage Young people Voluntary work European voluntary service