HC Deb 16 December 1985 vol 89 cc51-2W

Ms. Clare Short asked the Paymaster General (1) how many additional community programme places became available in November;

(2) how many additional community programme places became available in September.

Mr. Alan Clark

8,744 in September and 7,057 in November.

Mr. Sheerman asked the Paymaster General how many people on the community programme receive financial support for their participation in the new community programme training places.

Mr. Trippier

Community programme participants receiving off-the-job training under the MSC's adult training programme are not paid a training allowance for attending courses though out of pocket expenses (such as travel and meals) are met. The training costs are paid direct to providers.

In the seven-month period ending in October some 7,000 community programme participants had benefited from this training. The number of those who had claimed expenses is not yet known.