§ Mr. Rowlandsasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many training grants have been paid to employers in Wales since January, 1971, who have engaged workers aged 45 years or over and who have been unemployed for eight weeks or more; and how many of these grants have been made to employers within the Merthyr constituency.
§ Mr. Dudley SmithGrants have been paid in respect of 143 workers to employers in Wales since January, 1971. I regret that information is not available for the Merthyr Tydfil parliamentary constituency, but grants in respect of nine workers were paid to employers in the Merthyr employment area.
§ Mr. Rowlandsasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many firms within the Merthyr Constituency have applied in 1971 and in the first quarter of 1972 for financial and direct assistance for training workers; what has been the total amount paid in grant; and how many workers have been covered by such assistance.
§ Mr. Dudley SmithI regret the information is not available in the form requested. Nineteen new or expanding firms in the Merthyr employment area applied for assistance with training in 1971 and eight in the first quarter of 1972.
§ Mr. Rowlandsasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many special training places for unemployed older workers there are in Wales to the latest date; and where each of the classes has been located.
§ Mr. Dudley SmithNo special training places are provided for unemployed older workers, but there is no upper age limit for training under the Vocational Training Scheme. On 10th April there were over 1,100 places available at Government Training Centres in Wales, and in addition nearly 300 people were receiving314W training in colleges of further education and in employers' establishments. Financial assistance towards training is also available to employers in assisted areas who engage workers over the age of 45 who have been unemployed for eight weeks or more.