§ Mr. Winnickasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number and percentage of school leavers in 1982 in (a) the west midlands, (b) the black country and (c) the Walsall travel-to-work area, who have been placed in apprenticeships lasting three years and more.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonI am afraid that information of this sort is not available for the black country or for individual travel-to-work areas. The latest available figures for the west midlands are those for 1979, covering 16 and 17-year-olds only, which were given to the hon. Member by my right hon. Friend in his reply on 13 November 1981.—[Vol. 12, c.203].
500WDepartment is providing an increasing level of encouragement and assistance to local enterprise agencies similar to Enterprise Ashford. We maintain regular contact with them and with Business in the Community. Support is being provided through the introduction this financial year of tax relief on contributions to agencies approved by my Department. An increasing number of local enterprise agencies are making full use of the information and counselling services of the small firms service.