§ Mr. Brayasked the Secretary of State for Employment what consideration he is giving to enlarging the training grants schemes in development and intermediate areas in the light of his recent proposals.
§ Mr. R. CarrFrom Monday, 6th March, I am introducing a new scheme to encourage the retraining of workers 323W in assisted areas who might otherwise be declared redundant. From the same date the rate of grant under the existing schemes will be increased.
Under the existing direct training grant schemes administered by my Department in development and intermediate areas, financial assistance is available towards the cost of training undertaken by new and expanding firms in providing additional jobs and also to all employers who engage and retrain for permanent jobs workers aged 45 or over who have been unemployed for at least eight weeks.
The weekly rate of grant under these schemes will be increased, for training begun on or after 6th March to £15 for men, £12 for women, £8 for boys and £7 for girls from the present rates of £10, £7, £5 and £4, respectively.
Under the new scheme grants are available to firms in assisted areas to retrain workers whom they would otherwise have had to declare redundant, provided that the workers are not declared redundant on completing the training. The rates of grant will be the same as the new rates for existing schemes.
This new scheme is being introduced in the present circumstances of high unemployment to provide assistance for firms with a surplus of workers who will be needed when business improves. The scheme is designed to encourage such firms to retain redundant workers, training them in new skills or widening and improving existing skills that will be of value later on.
The scheme will be reviewed after 12 months.