HC Deb 05 February 1985 vol 72 c730
2. Mr. Leigh

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement about the Manpower Services Commission's funds devoted to the Gainsborough employment area.

The Minister of State, Department of Employment (Mr. Peter Morrison)

I regret that precise figures are not available, but the commission estimates that over £500,000 will be spent in 1984–85 on employment programmes in the area served by the Gainsborough jobcentre and about £9 million on training programmes in Lincolnshire as a whole.

Mr. Leigh

As we come to the end of the second year of the youth training scheme, does my hon. Friend agree that the scheme's outstanding success — both locally where a TVEI project is on the rail and nationally where 420,000 young people are covered—gives the lie to the Opposition's claim that we do not care about youth unemployment? We do care, and we act.

Mr. Morrison

I could not agree more with my hon. Friend. I agree that some Opposition Members fail to appreciate the fact that the youth training scheme is extremely popular among the trainees involved and their parents.