§ Mr. Woofasked the Secretary of State for Employment what proposals he has for the improvement of aids to promote training readaptation and mobility of the labour force to cope with the changing patterns of employment.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerThe Manpower Services Commission is constantly adapting its training facilities to the changing patterns of employment and to the specific needs of industry and individuals. Expansion of the Training Opportunities Scheme is continuing within a flexible framework backed by selective marketing.
The Commission's Employment Transfer Scheme is designed to provide assistance to unemployed workers, and those under threat of redundancy, who move to a new area beyond daily travelling distance of their homes to take up employment. Assistance is also provided under the Job Search Scheme to help unemployed workers look for work beyond 171W daily travelling distance of their homes. Improvements are made, roughly annually, in the grants and allowances to take account of the changes in the Wages and Retail Price Indices. The last increase was on 5th November 1975. An enhanced rehousing grant is provided to those workers who complete a substantial course under the Training Opportunities Scheme, and whose first job is beyond daily travelling distance of their homes and started within 6 months of completing the training course.