§ Mr. Flanneryasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been 784W been the cost in each year in fees for the courses and in payments to the trainees; how many of those taking each course passed; how many of those qualifying are now unemployed; what percentage this represents of the total of unemployed drivers in Northern Ireland who hold such licences in each class; and how many are now on the list for such courses.
§ Mr. ConcannonTraining of unemployed persons for heavy goods vehicle driver licences in Northern Ireland is provided by the Department of Manpower Services through the agency of the Road Transport Industry Training Board.
The table below shows: (1) the number of persons sponsored by the Department of Manpower Services who have completed courses of training for heavy goods vehicle licences (Class I and Class III) in the years 1975, 1976 and 1977 to date; (2) the number of those trainees who have passed the course; (3) the costs in each year of course fees and trainees allowances:
the total cost to the British Government of the present emergency in Northern Ireland; if he will set this out in civilian expenditure and in expenditure by the Armed Forces, Army, Navy and Air Force, respectively; and what was the cost each separate year since the emergency began.
§ Mr. MasonIt would require a disproportionate use of staff time and resources to identify, even approximately, from within the total of expenditure in respect of Northern Ireland, each and every element of expenditure attributable solely to the "present emergency". Figures are, however, readily available in respect of the extra cost of military 785W operations in Northern Ireland since 1969. I refer to the answer given to the hon. Member for Stretford (Mr. Churchill) by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence for the Army on 20th July 1977.—[Vol. 935, c. 609.]