§ Mrs. Wiseasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will now give priority to unemployed people seeking training under the Training Opportunities Scheme, as compared with people already in employment.
§ Mr. GoldingI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that no priority can be given to unemployed people seeking training under the Training Opportunities Scheme (TOPS). TOPS is specifically designed for people who, for whatever reason, wish to acquire new skills. During the last quarter of 1976 less than 35 per cent. of applications for a TOPS course were received from people in employment and of those a substantial number may have been under notice, under warning of redundancy or insecure. The few who leave employment to be trained for other work generally create employment opportunities for others.