asked the Minister for Labour (a) the number of young people who participated in the work-experience programme administered by the National Manpower Service and (b) the percentage of the participants who succeeded in getting permanent employment.

(a) The total number of young people who have participated in the work experience programme administered by the National Manpower Service since its introduction in September 1978 up to the end of May 1981 is 13,408, broken down as follows:—

(b) It is estimated that over 80 per cent of the participants succeeded in getting permanent employment either during or directly after completing the programme — about half being retained by the employer offering the initial work experience.