§ Mr. Dan Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Employment if, in allocating the extra £15 million for job creation and training to the regions, he will take into account, in relation to areas such as Burnley and north-east Lancashire, not only the current unemployment figure but also the trend in depopulation over the past few years.
§ Mr. GoldingI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that funds allocated to job creation programme area offices are not generally sub-divided into allocations to more localised areas. In considering applications, action committees take into account all relevant factors relating to unemployment in the area. In planning training courses the Training Services Agency takes into account the needs of areas suffering from depopulation.
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§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many job weeks were created together with their total cost, in Wales, Scotland and each region of England up to the most recent available date.
§ Mr. GoldingI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the information up to 11th June is as follows:
Number of Man-weeks of employment created Total Grant approved (£) Wales 101,098 4,217,477 Scotland 198,327 9,194,414 London and South-East England 33,089 1,383,784 Merseyside 114,314 4,652,392 Northern England 159,428 6,205,186 South-West England 31,648 1,261,640 Yorks, and Humberside 54,306 2,228,495 Midlands 38,712 1,373,300 North-West (excluding Merseyside) 39,130 1,650,147