HC Deb 12 June 1973 vol 857 cc1192-4
13. Mr. Spence

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many grants have been paid to workers in development and intermediate areas in each region under the Employment Transfer Scheme.

29. Mr. Selwyn Gummer

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many grants have been made under the Employment Transfer Scheme to the latest available date.

Mr. Chichester-Clark

The Employment Transfer Scheme was introduced on 5th April 1972 and by 31st March 1973 18,557 people had been paid grants under the scheme. Of these, 14,954 movements originated in assisted areas—5,511 in Scotland, 3,001 in Northern Region, 2,706 in North Western Region, 1,490 in Yorkshire and Humberside Region, 1,365 in Wales, 659 in South Western Region and 222 in Midlands Region.

Mr. Spence

Is my hon. Friend satisfied that the scheme is doing what it was intended to do? Will he give further consideration to publicity for the scheme in view of the valuable alleviation of hardship which can flow from it?

Mr. Chichester-Clark

I will certainly consider whether publicity could and should be given to the scheme itself. As for whether it is having the intended effect, I would only say that when we improved the scheme last year we hoped to double the number of Government-assisted transfers to around 16,000 in the first year. As it happens, the number of people helped has exceeded our expectations by the considerable figure I gave.

Mr. Gummer

Will my hon. Friend give particularly careful attention to the position of younger workers, especially those just leaving school, who need help to move to an area with a wider range of possibilities, since in their own areas there may be vacancies in toto but not a very wide range of possibilities? Would not help with supervised hostels and the rest assist considerably here?

Mr. Chichester-Clark

I take my hon. Friend's first point. As for help with supervised hostels and so on, one has to strike a balance between care and over-paternalism. It is true that the Department of the Environment has powers under the Housing Finance Act 1972 to pay grants to housing authorities and housing associations towards the cost of providing hostels of approved standards. That should be a help in what my hon. Friend has in mind.