§ Dr. Hampsonasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied with the wider opportunities courses; what is the annual cost of the programme and the cost per place; and what percentage of those taking such a course immediately find an appropriate job.
§ Mr. GoldingYes. I am advised by the Manpower Services Commission that no separate costing record is maintained for wider opportunities courses and that the information could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost.
The course does not offer specific job training and no record is held centrally of follow-up placing of clients.
1972–75 1972* 1973 1974 1975 Construction … … … … … 4,244 5,802 6,392 6,825 Engineering … … … … … 8,942 11,977 8,888 11,119 Plant and automotive … … … … 2,715 3,625 3,940 4,191 Clerical and commercial … … … … 3,678 10,486 14,360 24,724 HGV Driving … … … … … — 448 2,942 4,756 Miscellaneous … … … … … 9,440 7,582 8,894 9,109 Total … … … … … … 29,019 39,920 45,416 60,724
1976–77 AND JANUARY TO MARCH 1978 1976 1977 January to March 1978† Construction … … … … … … … 7,422 6,285 2,255 Engineering and automotive … … … … … 22,980 23,665 6,260 Clerical and commercial … … … … … … 35,390 34,045 9,377 HGV Driving … … … … … … … 5,004 5,052 1,127 Management … … … … … … … 5,843 6,816 1,135 Miscellaneous … … … … … … … 13,012 18,299 3,911 Total … … … … … … … … 89,651 94,162 24,065 * The above figure for 1972 includes about 13,000 trainees trained prior to August 1972 under wha was then known as the Vocational Training Scheme. It is not possible—other than at disproportionate cost—to separate, in an occupational analysis, VTS from TOPS trainees. † Provisional.