HC Deb 14 February 1989 vol 147 cc146-8W
29. Mr. Fishburn

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will provide figures on training in 1979 and the estimate for 1988; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Cope

Some 876,000 people entered training in 1987–88 under schemes funded by the Employment Department Training Agency (formerly the Manpower Services Commission) compared with 91,000 in 1979–80. This nearly tenfold increase underlines the importance attached by the Government to developing a skilled and flexible work force capable of meeting the challenges of the 1990s and beyond. The principal responsibility for training must lie with employers themselves, but the Government play an important role through the major training programmes they support, in particular the youth training scheme and employment training.

The White Paper "Employment for the 1990s", which I issued last December, sets out radical proposals for building on the achievements of the last few years. These include the creation of local employer-led training and enterprise councils over the next three to four years and the establishment of a new programme, "Business Growth Training" to help employers, particularly small employers, improve the effectiveness of their training activity.

34. Mrs. Gillian Shephard

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the progress of the employment training scheme.

Mr. Nicholls

Employment training continues to make excellent progress and at 27 January 1989 there were 131,000 people on the programme. There is considerable interest in employment training among longer-term unemployed people who clearly recognise the value of worthwhile training to help them get a job.

62. Mr. Couchman

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are currently on Training Commission training schemes; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Nicholls

Information is not available for all Training Agency schemes in the form requested. However, in December 1988, 527,900 people were in training on employment training and YTS. This huge investment reflects the central importance which the Government attach to creating a skilled and flexible work force which will contribute to Britain's economic prosperity in the 1990s and beyond.

YTS has been a great success and the new employment training, the most ambitious training programme for unemployed adults anywhere, has made an excellent start.

66. Mr. Steinberg

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of people on YTS and employment training, at the latest available date, for the north.

Mr. Nicholls

At 31 December 1988 there were 32,300 youngsters on YTS, and at 27 January 1989 there were 14,400 adults on employment training in the Training Agency's northern region.

68. Mr. Loyden

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of people on YTS and employment training, at the latest available date, for the north-west.

Mr. Cope

At 31 December 1988 there were 65,700 youngsters on YTS, and at 27 January 1989 there were 18,500 adults on employment training in the Training Agency's north-west region.

79. Mr. Norris

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are currently engaged in the employment training scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Nicholls

The number of people on employment training at 27 January was 130,900. This is a tremendous achievement after less than five months of the programme's operation and is a reflection of the considerable interest shown by unemployed people in getting high quality training to help them get back into a job.

82. Mr. Conway

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will provide figures for spending on training in 1979 and 1988; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Cope

Records are kept on the basis of the standard financial year for accounting for Government expenditure. This year runs from 1 April to 31 March.

The figures represent expenditure by the Department of Employment Training Agency (ex MSC, ex Training Commission) on training programmes in the relevant financial years.

£ millions
1978–79 374
1979–80 451
1987–88 1,613

These figures include all related administrative costs, net of receipts.