§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his latest estimate of the number of jobs created during the past year as a result of expenditure sanctioned by the Chancellor; and what has been the cost per job.
§ Mr. GoldingI estimate that the number of jobs created or maintained by various employment measures during the past year was 180,000. The gross cost per job—ignoring savings of unemployment benefit, supplementary benefit and gains in income tax and national insurance contributions—was £1,030. Over their whole lives I estimate that the measures, including two just coming into operation, will provide 350,000 jobs. Resources have also been provided for 85,000 additional training places; and additionally subsidies have been introduced to encourage employers to recruit young persons for new and existing jobs.