asked the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of persons aged 18 to 21 years are in full-time employment in Wales.

I regret that this imformation is not available; the employment statistics do not give an age analysis for this total group.

Does my right hon. Friend accept that there is a serious problem of youth unemployment in Wales, as there is in the rest of the United Kingdom? There is general admiration for the efforts that he is making to bring in new jobs, which are desperately needed, but the insensitive comment by the Chancellor of the Exchequer about jobs being easily available does not help the situation in Wales one bit. Jobs may be available in Leicester, but they are certainly not available in many parts of Wales.

My hon. Friend is right to point out the seriousness of the situation for many individuals. The Government recognise the seriousness of the situtation and are undertaking massive schemes to try to help the young unemployed and devoting substantial resources to that task. As my hon. Friend knows, £1 billion will be spent on the youth training scheme this year.

In view of the seriousness of the situation, and the fact that one in two school leavers this year will not be able to get a job, will the right hon. Gentleman give an undertaking that no cuts will be made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the money spent on the YTS?

We have already announced our plans for the youth training scheme in the current financial year, and those plans are going ahead.