11.33 Youth services are covered by the same legislation as adult education, and have been vulnerable to the pressures on local Government finances in the same way. The National Youth Agency strategy stresses the importance of securing sufficiency of provision for young people. Currently, more than ten percent of young people between 16 and 25 experience high levels of disaffection and exclusion - outside from the labour market, education and training. Whilst New Deal seeks to target this group it is unlikely that a single strategy will overcome the problem in itself since many disengaged young adults may not be claiming Job Seekers' Allowance.

11.34 We propose that Government should define the level of service to young people to be secured by Local Authorities, which should be required to convene inter-agency forums on provision for young people in informal learning, with a remit to shape youth strategies and development plans.

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