§ Mr. Archerasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for each action for community employment scheme in Northern Ireland (a) whether relevent trade union approval has been sought, (b) whether it has been obtained and (c) where approval has been sought, from which trade union and at what level of the union.
§ Dr. BoysonWhere appropriate, sponsors must consult trade unions before presenting their proposals to the Department of Economic Development and must give an undertaking that this has been done. Since the introduction of new ACE funding arrangements in December 1985, almost all new proposals have been deemed to involve trade union interests and the necessary undertaking has been obtained. Most trade unions require consultations to take place with full-time officials or headquarters staff.
§ Mr. Archerasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for each action for community employment scheme in Northern Ireland (a) what rate is being paid to action for community employment workers and (b) whether the scheme is being used to (i) replace or (ii) supplement a present statutory provision and, specifying the provision as appropriate.
§ Dr. BoysonSponsors of Action for Community Employment schemes are expected to pay the local going rate for the job. ACE schemes may not be used to replace statutory provision. Public sector sponsors use ACE schemes largely to undertake additional environmental projects and the majority of voluntary sector ACE sponsors, operating in co-operation with public bodies, undertake similar work. In recent months the voluntary sector has shown a particular interest in developing community care projects which are aimed at supplementing existing statutory provision.
§ Mr. Archerasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list all action for community employment placements in Northern Ireland.
§ Dr. BoysonInformation in the form requested is not readily available and could only be compiled at disproportionate cost, because there are over 800 ACE sponsors.
§ Mr. Archerasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list all employer or community organisations presently participating in action for community employment schemes in Northern Ireland and the numbers of action for community employment workers in each case.
§ Dr. BoysonInformation in the form requested is not readily available and could only be compiled at disproportionate cost, because there are over 800 ACE sponsors.
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§ Mr. Archerasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give the present total level of Government funding of action for community employment schemes in Northern Ireland and the levels of Government funding of each scheme.
§ Dr. BoysonThe departmental budget for the Action for Community Employment scheme in 1985–86 is £17.75 million. Sponsors are funded on a per capita basis. It is estimated that the average grant per ACE employee in the current year is about £4,550 per annum.