Mr. Linus Forster:

As the members have addressed me directly I would like to respond to their questions on youth affairs, but I will also draw on the experience and expertise of my colleagues because there were also some questions that were more in the sector of education policy. First, regarding the statistics the committee asked for, we are in the very fortunate situation in Germany that we have in the former Federal Republic of Germany a youth unemployment rate of 7% and in Bavaria a youth unemployment rate of less than 3%, which is a very fortunate and pleasant situation to be in. These numbers do not include young people who are either in training programmes for further education or specific support programmes for school leavers who might not yet be able to enter the labour market. We have introduced programmes such as a fit-for-job programme. Anybody who is involved and supported by such programmes is not part of this statistic.

The youth unemployment problems, such as they are, are probably more focused on people leaving school who are insufficiently qualified to enter the labour market. For people having left third-level education, luckily, there is not a significant unemployment issue.

There are some specific demands and shortages, which are governed by whatever branch of industry might be concerned. For instance, with regard to the IT sector, engineering and manufacturing, we have a shortage of qualified people. On the other hand, there are academic fields where people leaving third level education might find it a little more difficult to find something specific to their background and their education.

With regard to the question on entry wage levels for people leaving academic training or with other qualifications, the committee might find that the response I will give might differ somewhat from the response members of other parties might give. There is a breadth in the political spectrum and there was a debate about where this is. As members of the Social Democratic Party - and the Green Party might share this view - we are of the opinion that people entering the labour market are not always paid appropriately and there should, perhaps, be an increase in the levels of pay. I am particularly concerned about developments regarding internships or other precarious employment situations which should, given the current economic situation in Germany, be more secure and better rewarded than they are currently. I will invite colleagues to speak for other parties on this issue.