HC Deb 05 May 1994 vol 242 cc596-7W
Mr. William Ross

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what targets have been set for the Training and Employment Agency for Northern Ireland for the period 1944 to 1997.

Mr. Tim Smith

The following targets have been set:

  1. 1. To increase the number of companies developing their management and work force skills through the company 597 development programme from 300 at April 1994 to 350 by March 1995 and to maintain this number until March 1997.
  2. 2. To assess companies on the company development programme—CDP—against the national standard "Investors in People" and to encourage commitment to the standard from the wider private sector with the aim of having 120 organisations—including 70 CDP companies—receiving recognition by March 1997.
  3. 3. To offer every company referred to the agency by the Industrial Development Board relevant information, advice and customised training.
  4. 4. To increase the proportion of youth training programme leavers who achieve a full qualification at national vocational qualification level 2 or above from 20 per cent. in 1993–94 to 45 per cent. in 1996–97.
  5. 5. To increase the proportion of job training programme leavers who achieve a full qualification at national vocational qualification level 2 or above from 17 per cent. in 1993–94 to 30 per cent. in 1996–97.
  6. 6 To provide an average of 9,200 temporary employment places with training through the action for community employment—ACE—programme with the aim of placing 36 per cent. of ACE leavers in jobs, training or futher education within three months of leaving.
  7. 7 To place 33,000 people into jobs in 1994–95.
  8. 8 To maintain the high levels of customer satisfaction and where possible, increase them.
  9. 9 To reduce administration costs by more than 3 per cent. in 1994–95.
  10. 10 To have the agency meet the national "Investors in People" standard for employers by September 1995.