§ Mr. Campbell-Savoursasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will make provision for an additional grant for transport costs for those employed on the Manpower Services Commission's special measures programmes in rural areas.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonNo. The Manpower Services Commission has reimbursed travel expenses over £4 per week to young people on the youth opportunity programme since the programme began in April 1978, and so the real value of the assistance made available has increased. Moreover, since there are many more opportunities available in the expanded programme the great majority of unemployed young people, even in rural areas, should find a suitable opportunity within reasonable travelling distance of their homes. In these circumstances an additional grant is not justified.
As regards adult staff employed on the youth opportunities programme, and adults employed under the community enterprise programme, they are employees of the sponsor of the scheme to which they are recruited and are therefore responsible for the costs of their own transport from and to their place of work.