§ Mr. Fosterasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the net reduction in the public sector borowing requirement of reducing youth opportunities programme expenditure by £25.2 million in the current year.
§ Mr. Jim LesterIt is difficult to assess the impact of particular policy changes on the PSBR since this is affected by interactions throughout the economy. However, I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that it is estimated that the cost of the youth opportunities programme net of savings in social security benefits and increases in tax and national insurance contributions is about two-thirds of the gross cost.
§ Mr. Fosterasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the net reduction in the public sector borrowing requirement of reducing special temporary employment programme expenditure by £42.2 million in the current year.
§ Mr. Jim LesterIt is difficult to assess the impact of particular policy changes on the PSBR since this is affected by interactions throughout the economy. However, I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that it is estimated that the cost of the special temporary employment programme net of savings in social security benefits and increases in tax and national insurance contributions is less than half of the gross cost.
§ Mr. Fosterasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the net reduction in the public sector borrowing requirement of reducing training opportunities scheme expenditure by £22.3 million in the current year.
§ Mr. Jim LesterIt is difficult to assess the impact of particular policy changes on the PSBR since this is affected by interaction throughout the economy. However I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that it is estimated that the cost of the training opportunities scheme net of savings in132W social security benefits and increases in tax and national insurance contributions is about 85 per cent. of the gross cost.
§ Mr. Fosterasked the Secretary of State for Employment how, in view of his decision to substantially reduce clerical and commercial training under the training opportunities scheme, he will ensure that women are not further disadvantaged in the labour market.
§ Mr. Jim LesterI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission, whose training services division is responsible for the operation of the training opportunities scheme—TOPS—that it remains its policy to welcome women to the whole range of training opportunities made available through the scheme.
As a contribution to helping to deal with the special needs of women, the Manpower Services Commission will be expanding its wider opportunities for women courses. These TOPS courses are designed for women who are considering looking for work after a lengthy period away from employment outside the home, and help them to overcome the problems they are likely to face in returning to the labour market.