§ Mr. Fosterasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give for each TSD region the percentage of total training opportunities scheme completions for 1978.
§ Mr. Jim LesterI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the total number of adults completing TOPS courses during the financial year 1978–79 was 70,187. The number of completions in each TSD region, expressed as a percentage of the total, is as follows:
Per cent. Scotland 12.8 Northern 7.4 Yorks and Humberside 7.4 North-West 16.3 Midlands 12.8 Wales 5.9 South-West 6.3 South-East 15.2 London 15.9
§ Mr. Fosterasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give for each TSD region (a) the original planned training opportunities scheme completions for 1979, and (b) the revised planned training opportunities scheme completions for 1979 in the light of the decision to reduce training opportunities scheme expenditure by £22.3 million in the current year.
§ Mr. Jim LesterI am advised by the Manpower Services Commission that the number of TOPS completions originally planned for the 1979–80 financial year was 79,918. Revised completions arising from the expenditure cuts will be approximately 71,900. This compares with 70,187 completions in 1978–79. The table below shows, by TSD regions, the original completion targets—column A—and approximate estimates of the revised targets—column B.
A B Scotland 9,650 8,900 Northern 6,182 5,500 Yorkshire and Humberside 6,014 5,700 North-West 13,000 12,000 Midlands 10,524 9,300 Wales 4,747 4,300 South-West 5,230 4,700 South-East 12,071 10,200 London 12,500 11,300