§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he intends to change the present position which permits training allowances to be paid to around 7,000 people annually who are completing TOPs sponsored courses in construction trades, but excludes from eligibility to either training allowance or unemployment benefit unemployed people who are completing vocational training outside the TOPs scheme.
§ Mr. GoldingI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that there are no plans to extend the payment of either training allowances under the TOPs scheme or unemployment benefit to people who are undergoing vocational training outside the TOPs scheme.
The TSA has provided very consider. able funds for a variety of training grant and award schemes to be administered by the Construction Industry Training Board so as to increase the number of industrial training places available.