§ Mr. Hendersonasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many training places have been taken up in Scotland and England, respectively, as a result of the special measures programme.
§ Mr. GoldingI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that special measures training grants and awards are offered on an industry-wide basis and that detailed statistics on their geographical take-up are not available. Their distribution has depended upon a number of factors—the location and concentration of industry, the availability of training facilities and the willingness of employers to participate in the scheme.
However, the construction, engineering and road transport industries accounted
192W
Merseyside Tyneside Leeds Month Approved applications Amount paid £ Approved applications Amount paid £ Approved applications Amount paid £ September 1978 83 1,740 12 340 7 300 October 1978 95 11,840 28 2,100 10 1,120 November 1978 134 21,140 52 6,760 24 2,360 December 1978 105 17,380 28 5,360 18 3,080 January 1979 53 35,740 18 10,580 10 4,420 February 1979 40 31,720 18 5,350 5 3,500 TOTAL 510 119,560 156 30,490 74 14,780 which the special temporary employment programme has operated.
§ Mr. GoldingI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that since April 1978, when the special temporary employment programme—STEP—was introduced, the number of people in Scotland and England entering employment supported by STEP and the monthly financial expenditure is as follows:
for approximately 74 per cent. of the 100,000 grants and awards taken up nationally under the programme between 1975 and 1978, of which it is estimated that approximately 14 per cent.—10,400—were allocated to Scotland.