§ Mr. Raceasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list those topics on which it is not his practice to answer parliamentary questions; and if he will list any changes in the practice of his Department since 9 November 1979.
§ Mr. TebbitThe practice of my Department is to be as helpful as possible in answering parliamentary questions as long as this is consistent with protecting personal and commercial confidentiality and security and bearing in mind the cost to the taxpayer of answering questions.
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Measure Numbers supported at end of September 1979 Numbers supported at end of September 1980 Numbers supported at end of September 1981 Numbers supported at end of September 1982 Wolver-hampton West Midlands Wolver-hampton West Midlands Wolver-hampton West Midlands Wolver-hampton West Midlands Temporary Short-Time Working Compensation Scheme* 496 18,713 6,738 99,079 5,423 110,703 5,437 49,543 Job Release Scheme 186 4,106 222 5,602 172 4,548 283 6,343 Youth Opportunities Programme† 2,000 31,000 3,295 63,550 4,685 102,327 11,267 62,970 Community Industry‡ — 245 — 254 — 236 — 244 Each question is considered individually and it would not be possible to provide a definitive and exhaustive list of questions which I would exceptionally decline to answer. However, as an example, I would not answer questions which sought information relating to individual persons or companies which had been given to officers of my Department in the course of their duties.
I am not aware of any changes in the practice of my Department since 9 November 1979.