§ Mr. Prescottasked the Paymaster General if, for the most recently available date, and in the table form used in the Official Report, column 157 on 29 October, he will show for each Manpower Services Commission region the number of people interviewed under the restart programme; and how many have been placed into a destination.
§ Ms. Clare Shortasked the Paymaster General if he will list for the most recently available date, and in the table form used in the Official Report, column 157 on 29 October (a) how many people have been called for interview under the restart programme and (b) how many have been counselled and how many have been placed into a destination for (i) each Manpower Services Commission region, (ii) the Greater London area, (iii) the area manpower board areas covering the former Merseyside county council, the former West Midlands county council and (iv) Lancashire.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeFigures given in the form used by my hon. Friend in his reply on 29 October 1986 could not be used as an answer to this question. They were only a measure of the extent to which we know of direct placements made as the immediate result of an interview. This is not a measure of the total number of people who find work or training directly or indirectly as a result of the restart programme.
Seventy-four per cent. of participants agree to pursue the offer made to them at their interview, and we do not know the results of all of them. The immediate placings do not include the many people who subsequently find jobs, or other openings, such as training, as a result of counselling, restart courses or the outcome of other elements of the restart menu. I do not therefore believe 18W that figures in the form asked for by the hon. Member could accurately measure the "destination" of those interviewed.