§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will update his reply to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North, Official Report, 1 December 1979, column 358, showing each of the employment and training measures to alleviate unemployment currently in operation, the date when each scheme commenced, the gross and net costs to date, the main purpose of the scheme, the age groups affected, the number of job and training places provided, the weekly wage or allowance paid and whether or not the latter is taxable.
§ Mr. Jim LesterFollowing is the information:
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Measure Date of commencement Cost to 31.5.80* £ million Purpose of scheme Age groups covered Jobs or training places provided by 31.5.80 Weekly wage or allowances Whether taxed Temporary Short-time Working Compensation 1.4.79 35.9 To encourage employers to adopt short-time working instead of making people redundant All ages 124,637 75 per cent. of normal pay These subsidies are paid to employers: the workers Small Firms Employment Subsidy† 1.7.78‡ 63.5 To create extra jobs in small manufacturing firms in the private sector in Special Development and Development Areas All ages 190,704 £20 concerned receive normal wages which are taxable Job Release Scheme 3.1.77 143.9 To enable workers approaching statutory pensionable age to give up their jobs and make way for a younger unemployed person (a) 64 (men), 59 (women) (b) 60.63 (disabled men) 123,500 (a) £36 (£45.50 with dependent spouse) (b) £43 (£53 with dependent spouse) No Youth Opportunities Programme 1.4.78 211.4 To provide a range of opportunities for unemployed young people in training courses and work experience schemes Under 19 on entry 197,000 15 years of age—£19.50 16–18—£23.50 No Community Industry 5.8.75 49.0 To provide employment for disadvantaged young people Under 19 on entry 296,970 Local rate for the job Yes Special Temporary Employment Programme 1.4.78 66.0 To provide long-term unemployed people with temporary employment on projects which benefit the community. Special Development Areas, Development Areas designated inner city areas Aged 19 and over 39,500 Local rate for the job Yes Training in Industry 2.7.75 180.0 To enable industry to maintain its intake of apprentices and other long-term trainees Young people, mainly school leavers 154,423 Varies Depends on type of payment * Provisional. These figures quoted are gross. Net costs are considerably less and are on average a third to a half of the gross costs due to savings on unemployment and supplementary benefits and the maintenance of tax revenue and National Insurance Contributions. † Payments will continue on some applications until 30 September 1980. ‡ Closed for application on 31 March 1980.