§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what devolved powers he has to run training or work schemes that are different from those run elsewhere in the United Kingdom. [33595]
§ Mr. AncramResponsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Training and Employment Agency under its chief executive, Mr. J. S. Crozier. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
763WLetter from J. S. Crozier to Mr. Tony Worthington, dated 8 July 1995:
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me as Chief Executive of the Agency to reply to your question about the devolved powers he has to run training or work schemes that are different from those run elsewhere in the United Kingdom.
Training and employment programmes and services are administered by the Training and Employment Agency which is a Next Steps Agency established by the Department of Economic Development in 1990. The Department is empowered to run training and employment schemes under the Employment and Training Act (NI) 1950 (as amended by the Employment and Training (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 1988) which includes authority to "make such arrangements as it considers appropriate for the purpose of employment suitable for their ages and capacities or of assisting persons to obtain suitable employees (including partners and other business associates)". Under the arrangements which pertain during Direct Rule this authority is discharged subject to the direction and control of the Secretary of State.