§ Mr. Richard Wainwrightasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list in the Official Report the numbers of unemployed young persons who have been covered by the work experience programme since the scheme was first introduced; and if he will give details of the money: (a) allocated and (b) spent on the project.
§ Mr. GoldingI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that by 5th February, 4,623 young people had been recruited under the programme. By that date schemes involving 5,728 places had started out of a total of 10,165 places approved. The gross costs of allowances for the young people recruited is approximately £2.1 million and the total commitments by 5th February for all approved schemes was £4.6 million.
§ Mr. Richard Wainwrightasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the average length of time a young person spends in industry under the work experience programme.
§ Mr. GoldingI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that work experience schemes must last for at least six months and that most schemes run for this period. We have as yet no precise figures.
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§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his latest estimate of the number of young people employed in work experience schemes.
§ Mr. GoldingI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that 4,623 young people were known to have started on work experience schemes by 5th February 1977.
§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the gross cost and what is the net weekly cost to public funds of each young person engaged in work experience.
§ Mr. GoldingI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the gross cost to public funds of each young person engaged in work experience—exclusive of administration costs—is £16 per week. The net cost is approximately £5 per week, taking into account savings in supplementary or other benefits which might otherwise have been paid.