Earn £48k As A Lap Dancer, Careers Advisers Say

Young entrepreneurs have been offered career advice by a Welsh Government-backed scheme on how to earn up to £48,000 as a lap dancer, stripper or escort.

The "aspirational career opportunities" were featured on the Business Wales website, where those interested in moving into the industry were told they could command an average of £232 an evening - an annual income of between £24,000 and £48,000.

Users interested in setting up escort agencies were advised "the escorts provide companionship to the client when attending events such as a formal dinner or the theatre".

The factsheet went on to explain clients typically included single businessmen and women who hired an escort to "accompany" them to events and holidays.

It said: "Escort agencies usually have several escorts on their books. Agencies charge escorts an 'introduction fee' of between 25% and 55% of what the client pays to the escort."

The guide pointed out it was an offence for an agency to "incite escorts to act as prostitutes" but went on to provide links to websites offering "transsexual post-operation and submissive escorts".

Carwyn Jones, the First Minister of Wales, has now launched an investigation into the gaffe.

Plaid Cymru AM Jocelyn Davies said: "I'm certainly not a prude but it is hard to understand how the Welsh Government can believe it is acceptable to provide information to help women become strippers or run a lap dancing club, which is classed as a sex establishment.

"While jobs are difficult to find and money is tight, should the Welsh Government be effectively facilitating these activities by putting information on their website?

"Stripping is degrading for women and the Welsh Government should not be promoting the view that sexually exploitative work is an acceptable career."

Her remarks were echoed by Lib Dem Eluned Parrott and Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies.

Miss Parrott said: "These are perfectly legitimate businesses. However, I was very surprised to learn that these factsheets are offered to young people via a link on the Welsh Government's Big Ideas Wales website which is aimed specifically at youth entrepreneurs.

"The adult entertainment industry is just that - a field that is appropriate for adults, but not one that should be marketed as an aspirational career opportunity to potentially vulnerable young people."