HC Deb 29 March 1988 vol 130 cc414-7W
21. Mr. Wall

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make it his policy not to designate the adult training scheme under clause 26 of the Employment Bill in the lifetime of the current Parliament.

61. Dr. Moonie

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make it his policy not to designate the adult training scheme under clause 26 of the Employment Bill in the lifetime of the current Parliament.

62. Mr. Ronnie Campbell

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make it his policy not to designate the adult training scheme under clause 26 of the Employment Bill in the lifetime of the current Parliament.

91. Mr. George Howarth

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make it his policy not to designate the adult training scheme under clause 26 of the Employment Bill in the lifetime of the current Parliament.

102. Ms. Armstrong

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make it his policy not to designate the adult training scheme under clause 26 of the Employment Bill in the lifetime of this Parliament.

Mr. Fowler

We have made it clear that the new employment training programme will be a voluntary one, and we have no plans to designate it.

24. Mr. McAvoy

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether refusal to participate in the adult training scheme will be grounds for withdrawal of benefit under the availability for work test.

28. Mr. Frank Cook

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether refusal to participate in the adult training scheme could be grounds for withdrawal of benefit under the availability for work test.

70. Mr. Caborn

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether refusal to participate in the adult training scheme will be grounds for withdrawal of benefit under the availability for work test.

82. Mr. Chris Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether refusal to participate in the adult training scheme will be grounds for withdrawal of benefit under the availability for work test.

116. Mr. Haynes

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether refusal to participate in the adult training scheme will be grounds for withdrawal of benefit under the availability for work test.

Mr. Nicholls

We have made it clear that, as recommended by the Manpower Services Commission, the new employment training programme will be a voluntary one, and we have no plans to designate it as "Approved Training" for the purposes of section 20 of the Social Security Act 1975. Additionally, refusal to take up a place in the programme will not by itself be grounds for withdrawal of benefit under the availability for work test.

25. Mrs. Clwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment which schemes he intends to designate as approved training under clause 26 of the Employment Bill.

49. Mr. Nellist

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment which schemes he intends to designate as approved training under clause 26 of the Employment Bill.

84. Mr. Turner

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment which schemes he intends to designate as approved training under clause 26 of the Employment Bill.

86. Mr. Doran

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment which schemes he intends to designate as approved training under clause 26 of the Employment Bill.

89. Mr. Ray Powell

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment which schemes he intends to designate as approved training under clause 26 of the Employment Bill.

Mr. Cope

The Secretary of State has no plans to designate any schemes.

41. Mr. Grocott

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received asking him to reconsider his decision to require those participating in the adult training scheme to pay the first £5 of their travel expenses.

68. Mr. Flannery

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received asking him to reconsider his decision to require those participating in the adult training scheme to pay the first £5 of their travel expenses.

110. Mr. Litherland

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received asking him to reconsider his decision to require those participating in the adult training scheme to pay the first £5 of their travel expenses.

Mr. Nicholls

None. It was the unanimous recommendation of the Manpower Services Commission that only participants' travel expenses in excess of £5 should be met, and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has accepted this.

64. Mr. Morley

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what special arrangements are included for disabled people and those with special needs under the new adult training programme.

Mr. Nicholls

The new employment training programme will be locally planned and delivered in line with local needs, including the needs of disabled people. Where appropriate, supplementary funding will be available to assist in meeting higher costs associated with training people with special needs. There will also be special eligibility arrangements for disabled people. In addition, a range of specific help for trainees with disabilities will be available in the form of special aids to employment, adaptations to premises, a communicator service for deaf trainees and a personal reader service for blind trainees.

77. Mr. Graham

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received asking him to reconsider his decision to pay £10 per week plus benefit to those who participate in the adult training scheme.

94. Mr. Foulkes

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received asking him to reconsider his decision to pay £10 per week plus benefit to those who participate in the adult training schemes.

Mr. Nicholls

We have received a number of representations about the level of the training allowance to be paid to participants on the new employment training programme. The Government's decisions on the allowance, and on the other payments to be made to participants, implement in full the unanimous recommendations of the Manpower Services Commission. The allowance will give participants a lead of £10–£12 a week over their benefit entitlement and will ensure that they will be better off on the programme than remaining unemployed and on benefit.

111. Mr. Bellingham

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to meet the chairman of the Training Commission to discuss the new integrated adult training scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Nicholls

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has regular contact with the chairman of the Manpower Services Commission, which is being renamed the Training Commission in the Employment Bill, to consider a number of matters, including the new employment training programme. The Manpower Services Commission is currently working on the detailed arrangements to introduce the new programme from 5 September.