Ms Renate Dodell:

Germany has been repeatedly criticised, not least by the OECD, for the relatively low number of young people who go through third level education but this may be the reason for the fact that we have such low levels of youth unemployment. Within the federal republic, the political responsibility for education rests with each state. Within Bavaria, we have a schooling system which allows young people to go through a schooling programme of nine, ten or 12 years. When they leave the programme at whatever duration they have chosen, they then have the opportunity to progress and move up from the level at which they have left the schooling system. Those who do not choose to enter a third level university to study, typically start a vocational training programme. The latter is carried out in Germany under the dual system, which comprises training supplied by the company for which they work and schooling for which they typically attend a school two and a half days a week throughout the training period. This lasts from two and a half to three years. Those who emerge from the training programme are well respected and sought after by industry. As a result, this leads to a situation where many people who have completed the programme will find acceptable jobs and they are well respected within those jobs.

We have recently introduced a new initiative whereby those who have gone through the vocational training programme to the level of master in whatever trade they are trained in, automatically have a right to enter university and to continue their education at that level following this practical training. Most of those who then decide to study are inclined to study the human sciences rather than natural sciences. Perhaps a correction is needed more towards natural sciences and the IT sector rather than having people study languages, education and so on because this is where the jobs are and where we are looking for future careers. We have introduced programmes co-sponsored by schools and businesses where young people, particularly young women, are introduced to science in practice.

I refer to the entry wage levels for people completing third level education. I have three sons who have completed third level education and it is my experience that the entry wage levels for the jobs they might take are determined by the industry, the job profile and the demand for those specific jobs at any given time.

Perhaps I will hand over to my colleagues on the question on agricultural policy.