§ 3. Mr. BrandrethTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to extend the training for work programme; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. David HuntTraining for work helped 294,000 people in England last year, which is over 20,000 more than originally planned.
§ Mr. BrandrethIs my right hon. Friend aware that unemployment has fallen yet again in the city of Chester? It is 6 per cent. lower than it was a year ago, and 35 per cent. lower than it was seven years ago. Does my right hon. Friend agree with the view on the ground, and particularly that of CEWTEC—the Chester, Ellesmere Port and Wirral training and enterprise council—that the training for work programme has had an important effect on employment, especially in regard to those with disabilities and learning difficulties?
§ Mr. HuntI agree. The most important feature of training for work is that more than 85 per cent. of the client group are long-term unemployed. It is a very important programme, and has had a remarkable impact.
Like my hon. Friend, I pay tribute to the work done locally. We share the same training and enterprise council, which is coming up with imaginative and exciting new ideas. I also pay tribute to the Employment Service, which places a substantial number of unemployed people in work. I believe that in Chester nearly 7,000 unemployed people have been placed in work over the past 12 months. I commend all who work in the local jobcentres for that remarkably good result.
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursHas the Secretary of State read a very interesting letter written by Mr. J. H. Pitman and published in the heavy dailies a few weeks ago concerning deficiencies in Britain's training programmes? Has the right hon. Gentleman asked to meet Mr. Pitman to discuss his concerns?
§ Mr. HuntNo, I have not. Inquiries are taking place, and the hon. Gentleman knows that my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State has asked on several occasions for anyone with evidence to come forward. As for the letter, I shall study it again and come back to the hon. Gentleman.
§ Mr. HealdIs my right hon. Friend aware that in Hertfordshire not only has unemployment fallen by 12.5 per cent. in the past year, but we have seen a tremendous result from the youth training guarantee? Delays have been reduced from 108 to just six in the past year. Does that not show that young people in Hertfordshire are being given a far better chance than ever before?
§ Mr. HuntI agree. We must continue to present young people in Hertfordshire and elsewhere with an increasing range of opportunities. The new modern apprenticeship scheme will be at the heart of the Government's strategy, and our recent announcement that the opportunity to take part in the scheme is to be extended beyond 16 and 17-year-olds to 18 and 19-year-olds is an important step forward.