HC Deb 23 June 1977 vol 933 cc538-41W
Mr. Noble

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many workers were covered by temporary employment subsidy in the North-West at the end of each month since the inception of the scheme.

Mr. Golding

I regret the information is not available in the form requested and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. However, the cumulative total of jobs which had been covered by approved applications at the end of each month since the inception of the scheme is as follows:

1975
September 540
October 2,155
November 2,649
December 4,321
1976
January 5,268
February 7,051
March 8,533
April 10,750
May 15,489
June 18,794
July 24,024
August 28,580
September 34,778
October 38,216
November 43,371
December 47,551
1977
January 49,742
February 54,513
March 56,596
April 62,438
May 64,873

Mr. Noble

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the average period of time required to process a claim for temporary employment subsidy in the North-West in 1977; and how this compares with 1976.

Mr. Golding

The average period of time in 1977 has been about six to eight weeks. The average for 1976 was about four to five weeks.

Mr. Noble

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many inspectors of claims for temporary employment subsidy are currently employed by his Department in the North-West; and how many there were on 31st December 1976 and 30th June 1976.

Mr. Golding

There axe three fulltime officials currently employed on visit- ing firms. On 31st December 1976 there were two and on 30th June 1976, one.

Mr. Noble

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total number of temporary employment subsidy claims outstanding in the North-West at the end of each month since the inception of the scheme.

Mr. Golding

Details are as follows:

Aplications pending
1975
September 1
October 4
November 5
December 3
1976
January 5
February 10
March 33
April 57
May 79
June 93
July 83
August 97
September 101
October 123
November 120
December 133
1977
January 142
February 143
March 187
April 207
May 238

Mr. Noble

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many claims for temporary employment subsidy have been made in the North-West since the inception of the scheme.

Mr. Golding

As at 17th June 1977, 1,232 applications for TES had been received in the North-West Region, covering 84,236 workers. Of these, 947 applications covering 66,956 workers had been approved and 253 applications covering 16,006 workers were under consideration. There were 58 applications for TES (supplement) covering 4,253 workers of which 56 applications covering 4,184 workers were under consideration.

Mr. Noble

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the total expenditure on temporary employment subsidy in the North-West; and what proportion this is of national expenditure on this item.

Mr. Golding

I regret that records of actual expenditure are not maintained by region. As at 17th June 1977, however, the estimated gross cost in subsidy for the North-West Region, including future commitment on approved applications and assuming 12 months' payment in each case, is £63 million. This represents a quarter of the national estimated gross cost for the scheme.

Mr. Noble

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total number of workers in the North-West for whom temporary employment subsidy entitlements have been exhausted; and how many of them are employed in textiles and footwear.

Mr. Golding

I regret that precise information is not available, but it is estimated that as at 17th June 1977 about 14,000 jobs were no longer supported because TES had been exhausted. It is estimated that about 55 per cent.—7,500 jobs—were in the textile industry and about 5 per cent.—700 jobs—in footwear.

Mr. Noble

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many companies have successfully renegotiated renewals of temporary employment subsidies for workers in their employment in the North-West.

Mr. Golding

None. As at 17th June 1977, 56 applications were under consideration and two had been rejected.