Community Programme (Hansard, 3 March 1988)

§ Mr. Wigley
To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what specific provisions are being made to ensure that smaller voluntary organisations will be able to continue to sponsor places on the revised community programme; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Nicholls
Following publication of the White Paper "Training for Employment" on 16 February 1988 the Manpower Services Commission is developing the detailed rules for the new adult training programme. There will be a variety of opportunities for voluntary organisations to participate and I refer the hon. Member to para 5.13 of the White Paper which statesThe Government are very concerned that voluntary organisations and others which have an established role in the Community Programme should have the opportunity to make a major contribution to the new programme".

§ Mr. Wigley
To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what specific proposals he is considering to ensure a smooth transition in funding to the proposed new community programme for voluntary sector projects and organisations.

§ Mr. Nicholls
Existing providers who become training managers in the new adult training programme will be funded for all their filled places under the arrangements set out in the White Paper "Training for Employment" published on 16 February 1988. To ensure a smooth transition the Manpower Services Commission's area managers will be talking in detail with their agents and independent sponsors about these arrangements, and the positive role we hope they will play in the new programme.

§ Mr. Wigley
To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what specific consideration he gives to regional variations in needs and opportunities in making allocations for project-based schemes under the community programme; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Nicholls
Community programme places are allocated to regions and areas in the light of both national priorities set out in planning guidance issued on an annual basis, and local priorities determined in consultation with area manpower boards. The following factors are taken into account when deciding on regional allocations:

1. The distribution of eligible unemployed people.

2. Current and past performance in achieving filled place targets.

3. The relative buoyancy of labour markets.

4. Flexibility to meet special needs which may arise during the year.

703W

§ Mr. Wigley
To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make an estimate of the proportion of those current community programme schemes which will not fall within the guidelines for eligibility under the proposals for the programme's reform.

§ Mr. Nicholls
The Manpower Services Commission are currently developing the detailed guidelines and criteria for the new adult training programme. It is not possible, therefore, to estimate the number of current community programme schemes that will not meet the guidelines for the new programme. However, the new programme will provide at least 170,000 places for project-based training, and this should ensure that the experience of existing community programme agents and sponsors can continue to be harnessed.

§ Mr. Cohen
To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what consultations he will be undertaking with organisations running existing community programmes and adult training schemes concerning the implementation of the new adult training scheme and other proposals contained in the recent White Paper from his Department.

§ Mr. Cope
The Manpower Services Commission has decided to establish a task group representing employers, trade unions, local authorities, voluntary bodies and other organisations running existing community programme and adult training schemes to advise on the implementation of the new adult training programme. In the course of local planning, the Manpower Services Commission will also be consulting area manpower boards and potential providers of the new programme.

§ Ms. Short
To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of the entrants to the community programme on the 12 months to December 1987 were(a) to full-time places, (b) men, (c) single, (d) aged over 25 years, (e) unemployed for over 12 months and (f) were formerly benefit claimants.

§ Mr. Nicholls
The latest information available is that relating to the 12 months to the end of November 1987. This is given in the table.

Number per cent.

Total entrants of whom 272,697

(a) Full-time 31,633 11.6

(b) Male 202,342 74.2

(c) Single 203,977 74.8

(d) Aged over 25 years 115,351 42.3

(e) Unemployed for over 12 months 216,794 79.5

(f) Formerly benefit claimants in direct receipt of benefit 263,153 96.5

(g) Formerly benefit claimants indirectly in receipt of benefit 5,858 2.1

	Number	per cent.
Total entrants of whom	272,697
(a) Full-time	31,633	11.6
(b) Male	202,342	74.2
(c) Single	203,977	74.8
(d) Aged over 25 years	115,351	42.3
(e) Unemployed for over 12 months	216,794	79.5
(f) Formerly benefit claimants in direct receipt of benefit	263,153	96.5
(g) Formerly benefit claimants indirectly in receipt of benefit	5,858	2.1