SIR – You published a letter from Councillor Marc Bayliss (Worcester News, October 11) taking exception to a letter from Lynn Denham claiming the city council’s apprentice scheme is too little, too late.

It is a desperate situation that 20 per cent of young people in Worcester have no job, no training and no future.

I would respectfully remind Councillor Bayliss of the city council meeting on February 22, 2011, amendment one, proposed by Labour leader Adrian Gregson. A proposal to amend the proposed budget item 12a paragraph 4a to implement a apprenticeship scheme over three years funded from reserves.

Councillor Bayliss, having resigned from the Labour party, addressed the council in an independent capacity.

In his address he belittled the proposal claiming that it was too small a sum to justify consideration and it would make little difference.

Ironically, the amount of money concerned was a lot more than the £30,000 that has now been allocated.

There have been six months wasted since the Conservative-led council voted down the proposal.

In that six months young people have faced a worsening jobs market.

As a Labour activist myself we do not intend to carp from the sidelines as people are written off. We will pressure the Government and the city council to adopt positive solutions. In this case, we have succeeded but it is a shame it is six months too late.

RICHARD BOORN
Worcester