§ Mr. Michael McGuireasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list in the Official Report the number of jobs: (1) which have been saved and (2) which have been created in the Skelmersdale New Town as a result of the various measures announced by the Government giving, in each case, the number of jobs, the name of the particular scheme and the cost per scheme.
§ Mr. John Fraser(1)Jobs Saved: The Temporary Employment Subsidy Scheme administered by my Department helps to postpone and hopefully avoid job losses.
One application under this Scheme, involving 52 workers in Skelmersdale, has been received and is currently under consideration. If it is approved and payment 255W is made for a maximum of six months the total cost involved would be £13,520.
(2) Jobs Created: The Community Industry Scheme, which is largely financed by my Department, and the Manpower Services Commission's Job Creation Programme, directly provide additional job opportunities. In addition the Recruitment Subsidy Scheme administered by my Department, although primarily concerned with encouraging the recruitment of school leavers, may in fact increase the number of jobs available.
No projects under the Job Creation Programme have so far been approved in Skelmersdale.
The Community Industry Scheme has no unit covering the Skelmersdale area.
Fifty-five applications under the Recruitment Subsidy Scheme, in respect of 55 school leavers in Skelmersdale, have been approved. The estimated cost is approximately £5,500.