§ Mr. Onslowasked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the average cost per trainee of secretarial training under the Manpower Services Commission's training opportunities scheme in each of the past four years.
§ Mr. GoldingI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the average cost for training allowances and fees for each trainee completing secretarial training is estimated as follows:
1975 £783 1976 £946 1977 £1,046 1978 £1,081 It is not possible to attribute an overhead cost to these trainees.
§ Mr. Onslowasked the Secretary of State for Employment what statistics he has relating to the entry or re-entry into secretarial employment of individuals who have taken a secretarial training course under the Manpower Services Commission's training opportunities scheme.
§ Mr. GoldingI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that no410W statistics are readily available on the future employment of those who took specifically secretarial courses. However, figures are available for those who took a TOPS course, in the broader clerical and commercial course group, which includes secretarial courses. These figures are derived from a one in six sample survey of TOPS trainees, three months after the completion of their course.
For adults who completed clerical and commercial courses during the 1977–78 fiscal year, 64 per cent. of the sample were in employment three months after completing the course, and 51 per cent. were using the skill they had obtained on the course. For the quarter ended June 1978, 66 per cent. were employed at survey date, and 55 per cent. were using what they had learnt. These are the latest figures available.