HC Deb 05 July 1977 vol 934 cc516-7W
Mr. Wigley

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many employees received grants from the Employment Transfer Scheme to enable them to move to take up jobs within the development areas in Wales during 1976.

Mr. Golding

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that this information is not available in the form requested. During the nine months ended 30th September 1976, 793 workers were assisted under the Employment Transfer Scheme to move to take up jobs in the whole of Wales. Of that number, 409 of the moves originated in Wales. Statistics are not available for the quarter ended 31st December 1976.

Mr. Wigley

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what safeguards are sought by his Department before giving financial assistance to a person to move area into a new job, to ensure that there are no suitable persons already domiciled in that area that could do the jobs for which a grant is being paid.

Mr. Golding

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that in the case of a transfer from a non-assisted area, inquiries are made of the Employment Service Agency's local office in the area to which the move is proposed, to ensure that there are no suitable unemployed people in the new area to fill the vacancy. This procedure does not apply in the case of a transfer originating in an assisted area.

Mr. Wigley

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the cost of the employment transfer scheme during 1976; and how many persons were assisted by the provisions.

Mr. Golding

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that information on expenditure is not available in the form requested. Expenditure on all transference schemes—the Employment Transfer Scheme, the Job Search Scheme, the Key Workers Scheme and the Nucleus Labour Force Scheme in 1976 was £9,800,387. The total numbers of persons assisted under these schemes during the nine months ended 30th September 1976 were as follows:

Employment Transfer Scheme 16,131
Job Search Scheme 14,049
Key Workers 307
Nucleus Labour Force Scheme 2

Figures are not available for the quarter ended 31st December 1976.

Mr. Wigley

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a table showing the number of job transfers which were financially assisted by the employment transfer scheme (a) within each of the standard regions and (b) between each of the standard regions during 1976.

Mr. Golding

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that this information is not available.