§ Mr. Wrigglesworthasked the Secretary of State for Employment what financial assistance has been given by the European Social Fund for training young people in the United Kingdom, in the Northern Region, and in Cleveland land County, respectively, over the last four years.
§ Mr. John GrantAllocations totalling £13 million have been made to the United Kingdom from the European Social Fund under the special scheme to assist young people under 25 years of age who are unemployed or seeking employment which was adopted by the Council in July 1975. During the years 1974–76 a further £4 million was allocated to the United Kingdom in respect of such young people under schemes not confined to them. The applications from Great Britain for assistance towards the relevant schemes, and, consequently, the allocations from the fund, were in respect of operations covering Great Britain as a whole. A proportion of these allocations would relate to operations in the Northern Region and Cleveland County, but I regret that it is 467W not possible to calculate the amount of the proportion.
§ Mr. Cowansasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are awaiting admission to Government training centres in the Northern Region; and how this compares with the previous years from 1973 onwards.
§ Mr. GoldingI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that on 21st April 1977 there were 1,746 people awaiting admission to skillcentres—formerly Government training centres—in the standard Northern Region. Comparable figures for the four previous years are as follows:
1973 … … … … 1,813 1974 … … … … 1,322 1975 … … … … 1,304 1976 … … … … 2,962