§ 64. Mr. Tom Coxasked the Paymaster General if he has any plans to increase the present payment of £125 to employers who wish to send work people on training courses; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. TrippierThere are no plans to increase the £25 per person per day (up to a maximum of £1,000 per person) payable under the local training grants to employers scheme.
The discretionary grant is not intended to meet the full costs of training but to provide a worthwhile contribution to those employers awarded grants. Early evaluation of the scheme by the Manpower Services Commission shows that it effectively meets this aim. The scheme has proved very popular with employers. In 1985–86, over 2,900 firms have started their approved training programmes, which will help around 30,000 employees considerably more than was anticipated.