HC Deb 28 March 1977 vol 929 cc69-72W
Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many (a) men, (b) women and (c) juveniles are currently waiting for training and retraining places in (i) Kirkby and Ormskirk.

Mr. Golding

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the information is not available other than at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will detail the training and retraining facilities already available in (a) Kirkby and (b) Ormskirk for (i) men and (ii) women; and what steps are being taken to improve these facilities in each town.

Mr. Golding

The Manpower Services Commission informs me that the facilities available under the training opportunities scheme in Kirkby and Ormskirk are as follows:

Kirkby
(a) Annexe to St. Helens skillcentre
Course Number of places
Carpentry and joinery 14
Welding 48
Heavy vehicle repair 24
Motor vehicle repair 24
(b) Colleges of Further Education
Course Number of places
Typewriting and office practice 10
Engineering induction 12
Preparatory courses 15
Shorthand and typing 18
Shorthand and typing (refresher) 18
Medical receptionist 20
Clerk audio typing 18

Ormskirk.—No regular training facilities are available but occasional use is made of employers establishments for individual trainees. These courses are open to both males and females. At present the Training Services Agency has no plans to increase the training facilities in either town, but people living in Kirkby and Ormskirk can make use of the skill-centres in Liverpool and St. Helens, both of which are within daily travelling distance. In addition the new skillcentre at Preston due to open in June 1977 will provide further training opportunities.

Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will detail the training facilities already available in (a) Kirkby and (b) Ormskirk for young people; and what steps are being taken to improve the training facilities in each town.

Mr. Golding

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the Training Services Agency aims to offer training for unemployed young people under the age of 19 in areas where there

Type of Course Location Number of Training Places
(a) In Kirkby Typewriter and office practice Kirkby Youth Club 10
Engineering induction Kirkby CFE 12
(b) In Ormskirk None.
(c) Within the travel to work area

Motor Vehicle Servicing
St. Helen Technical Col. 12
Southport Technical Col. 10
Sewing Machinists
Northgate Ltd. 20
Peter Bland Ltd. 6
Southport Technical College 6
R. & L. Manufacturing, Walton 6
Engineering induction
Hugh Baird CFE 12
Kirkby CFE 12
N. E. Technical College 12
Prescot CFE 10
St. Helens Technical College 12
Wm. Neill Southport 10
Southport Technical College 10
Southport Technical College 10
English Electric Walton 30
Construction
Booths training centre 54
Concrete Practice
Riversdale Technical College 20
Gardening
Merseyside Parks and gardens 10
Skelmersdale Development Corporation 6
Office Practice
Kirkby Youth Club 10
Care assistants
Mabel Fletcher 15
Laboratory work
Old Swan Technical College 10
St. Helens Technical College 15
Welding and sheet metal fabrics
North-East Technical College 12
Office skills
Southport Technical College 20
Building craft Appreciation
Southport Technical College 12
Food preparation
Southport Technical College 12
Wider opportunities
Liverpool skillcentre 24

In addition, the TSA is currently involved with local interests in planning the provision of further training for

NUMBERS UNEMPLOYED IN EMPLOYMENT OFFICE AREAS
Biddulph Cheadle Kidsgrove Leek
February 1974 131 122 213 145
March 1977 248 291 487 458
Figures for March 1977 are provisional.

are suitable training facilities and reasonably good employment prospects. For unemployed young people in Kirkby and Ormskirk, the following training provision is available:

unemployed young people at an advance factory in Skelmersdale which is some eight miles from Kirkby and three miles from Ormskirk. Most of the training courses listed last for 12 or 13 weeks and will, therefore, be available to at least three different groups of young people annually.