§ 33. Mr. Michael McNair-Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement about the number of job opportunities produced by the Government's job creation programme.
§ Mr. GoldingI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that to date approximately 65,500 temporary jobs have been created under the job creation programme.
§ Mr. Craigenasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is considering extending the job creation scheme in assisted areas beyond the present expiry date of March 1978 for the scheme as a whole.
§ Mr. GoldingThe future of the job creation programme and other measures to alleviate unemployment is currently under consideration by my Department and the Manpower Services Commission.
§ Mr. Craigenasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will consider amending the criteria of the job creation scheme to assist areas of urban deprivation, by, for example, increasing the percentage grant of labour costs available to help with the provision of materials and equipment, &c.
§ Mr. GoldingThe job creation programme is already giving substantial assistance to deprived urban areas. I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that about one-sixth of the jobs created under the programme involve work in these areas. The future of the job creation programme is at present under review.
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§ Mr. George Grantasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many jobs have resulted in the Northern Region from the job creation scheme; and what is the cost of the scheme in the Northern Region and Great Britain, to date.
§ Mr. GoldingI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that, to date, 10,916 jobs have been created in the Northern Region under the job creation programme. The estimated cost to the Commission of the jobs approved to date in the Northern Region and Great Britain is £15 million and £91.7 million respectively.