§ Lord Eamesasked Her Majesty's Government:
What consideration they have given to alternatives to the ACE scheme in Northern Ireland which would meet the needs of those who have benefited from the training and employment offered by this scheme but who now face an uncertain future so far as employment and training are concerned.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Northern Ireland Office (Baroness Denton of Wakefield)Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Training and Employment Agency under its Chief Executive, Ian Walters. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
121WALetter to Lord Eames from the Chief Executive of the Training and Employment Agency, Mr. Ian Walters, dated 3 March 1997.
I refer to your question about what consideration has been given to alternatives to the ACE scheme to meet the needs of those who face an uncertain future so far as employment and training are concerned.
The Training and Employment Agency offers a wide range of employment and training services which help job seekers to take advantage of the increasing number of jobs available in Northern Ireland. There are currently 7,200 unfilled job vacancies notified by employers to the agency's 31 offices located throughout Northern Ireland.
In 1997/98, around 17,000 training places and more than 6,000 temporary employment places will be supported by the agency.
The agency will very shortly publish a consultation document aimed at stimulating discussion on how its resources should be directed in the future to assist the long term unemployed back to work.
I hope you find this reply helpful.