[gynn]

I agree that many young people are being misdirected into further education courses that will have little long term worth, but isn't one of the main reasons for that is because they have little or no alternative? There are no jobs for them to go into, so they opt for the easy way out. A further course of study to postpone the fateful day.

In the current economic climate, with businesses having to cut back on every item of "unnecessary" expenditure, the first victims of the cuts are training budgets. Apprenticeships are axed, and businesses make do with what they've got. But in reality, it is at times like this that apprenticeships and training are vital, as it is those people on whom the future recovery will be built.

To illustrate my point, perhaps Councillor Moss can tell us how many school leavers Hyndburn Council (the largest employer in the borough) is taking on this year?