HC Deb 07 May 1985 vol 78 c610
6. Mr. Nicholas Baker

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement about the Genesis programme for training workshops launched by the Manpower Services Commission.

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

The Genesis programme seeks to explore the potential for job creation and revenue generation in training workshops and information technology centres.

Mr. Baker

Does my hon. Friend agree that giving training workshops a more commercial approach in this way has great implications for YTS generally? Will he attend the launch of this scheme today? Will he also expand funding for it in the future, because that would be a great way of producing new jobs?

Mr. Morrison

I agree with my hon. Friend that this is precisely the enterprise ethic that we want to encourage in both information technology centres and training workshops. My hon. Friend will be glad to hear that I shall attend the launch later today.

Mr. Campbell-Savours

Does Genesis receive support from the European Community social fund? In the light of the most recent changes in the allocation rules and the fact that Britian will lose, will the Minister come forward with additional moneys from other sources to compensate for the loss of individual schemes?

Mr. Morrison

As the hon. Gentleman will realise, the premise of his question is incorrect. We are pointing out to the European Community social fund that its rules have not changed and neither have ours. Therefore, there is no loss at this stage on which the hon. Gentleman can base his premise. The Genesis programme is funded by YTS money and, therefore, it does not receive money from the European Community social fund on the margin.