§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many applications have been made under the job release scheme in Wales at the latest date for which figures are available; how many of these were from the unemployment register; and what has been the estimated additional cost of this scheme under each category to date.
§ Mr. GoldingA breakdown of applications made in Wales is not available, but the number of applications approved in Wales on 8th March was 783; of these 628 were from the unemployed register. The total cost of allowances would be 936,000 in Wales, assuming a full year's payment in each case.
§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the number of persons being supported by the work experience programme in Wales at the most recent available date, together with the total number of young persons who have to date benefited under this scheme; and what is the total expenditure on this scheme in Wales to date.
§ Mr. GoldingI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that, by 5th March, 6,545 young people were known to have started on work experience schemes, including 685 in Wales. Expenditure on maintenance allowance for young people participating in schemes in Wales is estimated at £285,000.
§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people in Wales have been placed on industrial courses and occupational selection courses under the training opportunities scheme 115W to date; and what has been the expenditure on these courses in Wales.
§ Mr. GoldingI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that, from the beginning of 1976 to 7th March 1977, 1,395 young people have completed short industrial courses, and 125 have completed occupational selection courses, in Wales. A further 366 young people in Wales are at present in training on such courses. It has cost same £1.35 million to provide training on these courses during this period.