asked the Minister for Labour whether data will be collected on the progress of persons who come off training and work experience programmes to show not just whether they were placed at the end of the course, but their situation one year later and the quality of the place obtained.

Arrangements for followup action on participants in training and work experience programmes are being developed.

The present position is as follows: first, in 1984, AnCO will instal a placement monitoring system which will sample individual training categories with a view to obtaining data on placement at the termination of training and four months later. Data will be collected on whether the job is permanent, part-time, or temporary, and the relevance of the job to the training undergone in AnCO. Subject to the availability of resources longer-term assessment of placement is envisaged.

Second, CERT have agreed to collect data reflecting the position of trainees after one year's placement in respect of participants on both formal training programmes and programmes for unemployed persons. Third, The National Manpower Service check on participants in the work experience programme within two months of completion of individual programmes in order to establish whether or not they have secured employment. It is hoped that the introduction of computerisation will enable more detailed checks of the type suggested by the Deputy to be undertaken.

I would like to commend the Minister on those changes but would he consider having a simple standard applied to all the agencies instead of as he suggests, AnCO after four months, CERT after one year and the National Manpower Service after two months? Would he also extend the sample survey method instead of full surveys which are obviously much more expensive?

Yes.

12.