§ Mr. LeightonTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how much money has been allocated to the Manpower Services Commission's personal reader service for the blind for each of the last two years for which figures are available; and of that how much has been spent.
§ Mr. NichollsIn 1986–87 £42,660 was allocated to the personal reader service for the blind for YTS and £2,236 was spent. In 1987–88, of the £42,660 allocated, £3,000 was spent. For new JTS £8,000 was allocated for 1987–88. No money has been spent.
§ Mr. LeightonTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what was the average cost per trainee of the Manpower Services Commission's personal reader service for the blind for each of the years since it was introduced;
(2) what has been the average number of hours of reading service provided per trainee under the Manpower Services Commission's personal reader service for the blind since its introduction.
§ Mr. NichollsInformation on the average number of hours provided and the cost per trainee of the personal reader service for the blind is not available. In YTS, the service is provided for a maximum of 450 hours per trainee over a two-year scheme. In new JTS the service is provided for 225 hours over one year's training with a pro-rata allocation for shorter periods on the scheme. On both schemes, trainees' use of this resource varies according to their individual needs.