§ Mr. Ovendenasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many applications for training courses were received from applicants wishing to engage in part-time employment during the last 12-month period for which figures are available; what proportion were approved; and how these figures compare with applications from people seeking to engage in full-time work.
§ Mr. GoldingI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the post-training intentions of applicants for training under the Training Opportunities Scheme are not recorded in a statistical form. Accordingly, the commission is unable to supply the information requested.
§ Mr. Hurdasked the Secretary of State for Employment how much public funds was spent on retraining in 1974 and 1975; and how much of this expenditure was met by assistance from the EEC Social Fund.
§ Mr. John GrantPublic funding for retraining in Great Britain is mainly through the Training Opportunities Scheme, on which expenditure by my Department up to 31st March 1974 and thereafter by the Training Services14W Agency was £64 million in 1974 and £93 million in 1975. Allocations from the European Social Fund for training under this scheme were £12.7 million for 1974 and £21.7 million for 1975. Other applications from the United Kingdom in respect of which allocations were made from the Social Fund include an element of retraining which it is not possible to quantify.