§ 9. Mr. Tilleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he is satisfied with the Manpower Services Commission's success in providing training places for young people in inner city areas.
§ Mr. PriorThe Manpower Services Commission is constantly looking for improvements. I shall welcome the co-operation of the hon. Member.
§ Mr. TilleyI am grateful for that reply. However, is the Minister aware of the widespread concern that is felt and is being expressed here today in a lobby about the future of the Enterprise Workshop scheme? That scheme allows the creation of permanent jobs in viable co-operative ventures. Will the Secretary of State assure the House that Enterprise Workshop will not be axed but will be allowed to expand to provide many more desperately needed jobs in the inner city areas and elsewhere in Britain?
§ Mr. PriorI should be grateful if the hon. Gentleman would give me notice of the particular case to which he has referred. There are 556 training places available under the youth opportunities scheme. A new training centre should be operational by the spring for an additional 40 persons. I have every confidence that we can maintain our training effort for young people in the inner city areas.
§ Mr. HaselhurstIs there not some cause for concern that the Manpower Services Commission may be giving too much attention to schemes of its own origination and insufficient attention to worthwhile schemes that are being put forward by employers and voluntary organisations, sometimes in co-operation with one another?
§ Mr. PriorWe should give every possible encouragement to the development of schemes that are put forward by voluntary organisations. The Manpower Services Commission could give more encouragement to those schemes. I am in touch with the chairman of the Commission with that idea in mind.
§ Mr. Allan RobertsDoes the Minister agree that youth unemployment in inner city areas is a major contributory factor to vandalism and crime in those areas? Therefore, does he admit that cutting the budget to the Manpower Services Commission will exacerbate those problems, contrary to the Government's so-called law and order programme?
§ Mr. PriorI do not admit that. The Manpower Services Commission could have its budget cut and yet maintain an efficient and strong service. The number of young people who will enter the youth opportunities scheme this year should be over 200,000, compared with 162,000 last year.