§ Mr. O'BrienTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is meant by low incomes in relation to people who have joined employment training schemes, for(a) lone parents and (b) couples; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NichollsMy Department does not use arty definition of low income in relation to people in employment training. Eligibility for employment training does not depend on the level of income and the training allowance paid to trainees is based on their existing entitlement to benefits.
§ Mr. O'BrienTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what provision is made for people taking employment training who have child care problems, particularly where no creche facilities exist; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. NichollsThere are a number of ways in which people on employment training (ET) can be helped with childcare. Training providers are encouraged to set up creche facilities at or near the place of training and lone parents can get help towards the cost of this or other appropriate provision. In addition the inbuilt flexibilities of ET mean that training can often be arranged to take account of individual domestic circumstances.
§ Mr. O'BrienTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what provision is made to help people taking Government employment training in computer courses to undertake training at home; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NichollsWhere appropriate trainees may, with the agreement of the training manager, undertake training in computer skills at home. Where computer equipment is needed for people with disabilities, there is help available through the special aids to employment scheme.
Within employment training there is also provision for higher level information technology skills courses specifically for women returners. In some cases where training is home based, office equipment and computers can be made available on loan.