§ Dr. Hampsonasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many places are available in training workshops; and what is the cost of the programme and the cost per place.
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§ Mr. GoldingI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that under the youth opportunities programme it is planned to establish 300 training workshops providing 10,000 places a year for young people aged between 16 and 18. At 9th June, 74 applications for training workshops had been received from potential sponsors giving a possible 3,456 places. Of these, three have been started, providing 89 places, a further four, providing 363 places, have been approved and will start in the near future, and the remaining 67 applications, which would result in 3,004 places, are being processed. In addition, inquiries about training workshops have been made by a further 75 potential sponsors and these are being followed up by MSC area office staff.
The Holland Report estimated that the cost of providing 10,000 opportunities in a year would be £9.63 million, excluding capital costs. The maximum grant that the MSC will make towards the annual operating costs of a training workshop is £2,465 per occupied trainee place. In addition to this, the MSC will make a contribution of up to 90 per cent. of the initial capital cost, subject to a limit of £300 per trainee and adult place provided.