HC Deb 02 April 1980 vol 982 cc212-3W
Mr. Ralph Howell

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give details of the yearly budget of the Manpower Services Commission towards adult training courses for each of the years 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1979.

Mr. Jim Lester

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the information is not available on a calendar year basis.

The amount provided in the published annual Estimates for training courses under the training opportunities scheme for the financial year in question is as follows:

£
1974–75 69,400,000
1975–76 117,300,000
1976–77 196,867,000
1977–78 216,906,000
1978–79 228,827,000
1979–80 246,588,000

The amounts for 1974 to 1978 include special courses for unemployed young people which are now covered by the youth opportunities programme. It is not possible to separate the costs of these courses from the provision for adults.

In addition, I give below figures for the Estimates and corresponding expenditure expressed at constant prices. The figures below represent an assessment at estimated 1979–80 price levels. Any calculation in retrospect of the effects of movements in the level of pay and prices between the year in which the expenditure

Year Estimate at estimate prices (as above) Estimate at 1979–80 prices Expenditure at 1979–80 prices
£ million £ million £ million
1974–75 69.400 173.3 145.4
1975–76 117.300 211.3 198.8
1976–77 196.867 276.3 236.4
1977–78 216.906 272.6 237.5
1978–79 228.827 258.2 233.1
1979–80 246.588 246.6 224.1