§ Mr. Tom Kingasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many skill-centres have been set up by the Manpower Services Commission in the area covered by the Bridgwater parliamentary constituency; and what other steps are being taken to reduce the level of unemployment in the area.
§ Mr. Harold Walker, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 18th December 1975; Vol. 902, c. 735], gave the following information:
I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that there are no skillcentres in the area covered by the Bridgwater parliamentary constituency. People living in the Bridgwater area may apply for training in any skillcentre in Great Britain. A lodging allowance is paid to trainees who have to leave home to undertake a course.
Under the Training Opportunities Scheme training is available in colleges of further education in most towns. During 1976 short courses below skilled level will be available for 5–6,000 young people who cannot find jobs and some of these courses will be in colleges. A proportion of these training places will be available to people living in the Bridgwater area.
881WI would expect Bridgwater along with the rest of Great Britain to benefit from the measures announced on 24th September and 17th December. These were designed to mitigate the worst effects of unemployment throughout the country by helping up to 120,000 people.