Mr. Alan W. Williams:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the latest figures for the percentage of 16 to 19-year-olds involved in full-time education (a) in Dyfed and (b) in Wales.

Thirty-three per cent. of 16 to 19-year-olds in Dyfed were in full-time education in 1987–88. The figure for Wales was 30 per cent.

Mr. Williams:

Has the Minister compared those figures with figures for France, Germany and Japan, which show that 40 per cent. of their 18-year-olds move on to higher education, and that an overwhelming majority of that age group are involved in full-time education? Is it not the truth that young people in Wales and in Britain are getting a raw deal from the Government in terms of poor education opportunities and apprenticeships being cut to one third? They are left only with state training schemes and with hardly any jobs to go to.

First, I would have thought that the hon. Member would appreciate how well Dyfed is doing in relation to the rest of Wales and to the rest of Great Britain. As to the situation in foreign countries, of course we would like a greater proportion of our young people to move on to further education rather than leave school, and we are taking active steps to encourage that.

Does the Minister accept that one of the problems of providing complete education provision for 16 to 19-year-olds is the lack of proper careers advice in our schools? Does he accept that careers teachers are under tremendous pressure because of the lack of adequate resources? Will the Minister consider ways in which the Welsh Office can ensure that further provision is made available to local authorities, so that proper careers advice is given to children in the age range in question?

I have looked at and paid close attention to the careers service in Wales, and I have given it every possible encouragement during the period that I have had responsibility for education. I would not say that the careers service and careers teaching in Wales is by any means perfect, but we are doing our utmost to improve it.