§ Mr. KynochTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what public expenditure provision has been made available in respect of expenditure in 1993–94 by Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise on youth training and the new training for work programme; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LangThe provision derived from the Great Britain planning figures for the relevant programmes in 1993–94 which has been included in the total budgets proposed for Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, is as follows:
£ million Youth training Training for work programme Scottish Enterprise 78.7 86.5 Highlands and Islands Enterprise 5.6 5.2 The formulae for deriving the figures for 1993–94 from the Great Britain planning totals for the relevant programmes concentrate on labour market indicators. Scotland, which has the lowest unemployment rate of the four countries of the United Kingdom, is receiving over 10 per cent. of the provision for Great Britain compared to its 8.9 per cent. share of unemployment.
816WProvision for youth training takes account of demographic trends and estimated staying on rates for potential schoolleavers. It will remain a contractual requirement for local enterprise companies to meet the Government's youth training guarantee.
The training for work programme will provide broadly the same number of opportunities for unemployed people in Scotland in 1993–94 as are being provided by the employment training programme in the current year.
In addition to the specific funds for training, local enterprise companies have access to operating surpluses and can use the general arrangements for transferring resources within their budgets if necessary.