HC Deb 25 April 1977 vol 930 cc231-4W
Mr. McNamara

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total sum of money allocated for the job creation scheme; and how much has been allocated to the job creation scheme in the various economic planning regions of England and other appropriate districts in the remainder of the United Kingdom.

Mr. Golding

A total of £130 million has been allocated to the Job Creation Programme. I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that this has been allocated as follows:

£ million
London and South East (including the East Anglian Planning Region) 7.5
North West 28.0
Northern 21.0
South West 6.5
Yorkshire and Humberside 10.0
Midlands (separate figures for the East and West Midland Planning Regions are not available) 6.5
Scotland 30.5
Wales 16.0
Administration costs 2.1
Not allocated 1.9
Total 130.0

The Job Creation Programme does not operate in Northern Ireland.

Mr. McNamara

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many applications for job creation in the Yorkshire and Humberside area have been rejected because cash resources have not been available to carry them out.

Mr. Golding

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that no applications for projects have been rejected in Yorkshire and Humberside because of lack of Job Creation Programme funds.

Mr. McNamara

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what criteria are used by the local job creation committee when deciding whether a proposal is worthy of support; and whether the criteria vary from committee to committee.

Mr. Golding

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the main criteria used by local action committees in approving projects for the job creation programme are as follows.

Projects should:

  1. (a)provide new short-term employment opportunities for unemployed people, involving work which would not be carried out without JCP funding
  2. (b)make a useful contribution to the enhancement of the local environment or assist in the solution of a social or community problem;
  3. (c) provide worthwhile full-time work;
  4. (d)have the support of the appropriate trade union(s) and other interested parties;
  5. (e)be financially viable as regards any costs not met by JCP funds;
  6. (f)provide proper management and supervision and, where applicable, training and further education opportunities;
  7. (g)not lead to personal gain, other than wages;
  8. (h)make proper provision for the safety and health of employees;
  9. (i)finish by 31st March 1978; and
  10. (j)be such that if the work is to continue after the period of JCP funding, there is a reasonable prospect that the necessary resources will be available.

The same criteria apply throughout the country, but committees are encouraged to apply them according to the particular needs of their area.

Mr. McNamara

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many jobs have been created by the Job Creation Programme in the North Humberside area and the Hull travel-to-work area in particular.

Mr. Golding

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that 603 jobs have been provided in the North Humberside area, of which 566 are in the Hull travel-to-work area.

Mr. McNamara

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many proposals for job creation programmes in the Hull travel-to-work area have been accepted; and how many have been rejected.

Mr. Golding

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that 72 projects have been approved and 51 applications have been rejected in the Hull-travel-to-work area.

Mr. McNamara

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list in the Official Report of those proposals for job creation programmes which have been accepted for the Job Creation Programme and those which have been rejected, stating in each case the number of jobs created, the amount of money required, and the reasons for acceptance or rejection of the proposals.

Mr. Golding

I regret that the information requested cannot be provided without disproportionate cost to public funds. I am, however, informed by the Manpower Services Commission that, to date, grants totalling £104.7 million have been approved under the Job Creation Programme, for 7,548 projects, to create 74,001 jobs. A total of 3,443 applications, involving 30,699 jobs, at an estimated

RETAIL BOOKSELLING AND STATIONERY TRADES
Amount of increase (£) smr (£)
Date at Men Women Men Women Notes
1st February 1974 15.40 13.90
25th February 1974 1.80 2.30 17.20 16.20
12th August 1974 0.45 0.70 17.65 16.90 Top-up to £2.25 under para. 116(iv) of S.I. 1973/1785, plus equal pay instalment.
12th August 1974 2.40 2.40 20.05 19.30 Threshold increase.
16th September 1974 0.40 0.40 20.45 19.70 Threshold increase.
18th October 1974 0.40 0.40 20.85 20.10 Threshold increase
7th April 1975 1.20 1.20 22.50 21.30 Threshold increase.
25th August 1975 3.45 4.20 25.50 25.50 Included equal rates for men and women.
21st June 1976 2.50 2.50 28.00 28.00 Top-up under £6 limit.
23rd August 1976 2.50 2.50 30.50 30.50 Earnings supplement.

potential cost to JCP of £47 million, have been repected or withdrawn.