§ Mr. Alfred MorrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received from the Rathbone Society about the precautionary notices of redundancy it has issued to its staff in England and 'Wales and the imminent closure of the training and employment service it provides for people with learning difficulties; what reply he is sending; what action he is taking; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Jackson[holding answer 15 March 1991]The chief executive of the Rathbone Society wrote to my right hon. and learned Friend on 1 March and the chairman wrote on 10 March. I shall be replying shortly.
On 26 February my right hon. and learned Friend announced we were making available an additional £120 million for employment training in 1991–92 bringing our total expenditure on the programme to £877 million.
Training and enterprise councils will be able to use this additional money to provide training in line with the priorities set out in their plans including training for those with learning difficulties and other special needs. It is for individual TECs to decide, in the light of local circumstances, with whom they will contract to provide the necessary training.