HC Deb 16 July 1991 vol 195 cc112-3W
Mr. Leighton

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what change in the number of Government-sponsored places there has been for retail, computer, office skills and information technology training in 1990–91 and 1991–92 in east London.

Mr. Jackson

Provision of training in east London is a matter for East London training and enterprise council. I understand that the number of training places available in these occupational areas is about the same in 1991–92 as the previous year.

Mr. Worthington

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what sums of money have been contributed from the European social fund towards employment training for the years 1989, 1990 and 1991; and what percentage contribution to the total costs of ET this represents for each year.

Mr. Forth

European social fund contributions towards ET were as follows:

£ million
1989 81.7
1990 144.5
1991 161.48

Employment training expenditure is determined by financial year and a direct comparison is therefore not possible. The most recent figures are as follows:

£ million
1989–90 1,097
1990–91 1,066
11991–92 915
1 Estimated

Mr. Worthington

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what the average unit cost is for employment training per trainee/week.

Mr. Jackson

It is estimated that the overall gross Exchequer unit cost for employment training in Great Britain in 1991–92, including trainee allowances, will be some £119 per trainee per week.

Mr. Worthington

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what average unit cost is assumed for the additional employment training places which were announced on 19 June.

Mr. Jackson

Changes to training and enterprise council and local enterprise company business plans, including payments per trainee week and per output, as a result of the additional £35 million made available for employment training on 19 June are currently the subject of renegotiation.

Mr. Worthington

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what consideration has been given to uprating employment training allowances in line with increases in the retail prices index; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Jackson

The training allowance paid to non-employed employment training—ET—trainees is equivalent to their previous entitlement to benefit plus a training premium of £10. The benefit element of the ET trainee allowance is increased each year in line with increases in social security benefits which are linked to the retail prices and Rossi indices.

Training and enterprise councils and local enterprise companies are also responsible for other trainee allowances, such as travel, lodging and child care.

Since its beginning in September 1988, more than 1 million people have been trained on ET. The Government are satisfied that the allowances paid to trainees offer sufficient incentive for individuals to take up training.