§ Mrs. Bainasked the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the total level of expenditure by the Manpower Services Commission on the advertising of courses available through the training opportunities scheme in (a) the television media, (b) the national Press, and (c) the local Press; how much of this has been related to opportunities for the disabled; and how many inquiries have resulted from each of the three media categories mentioned.
§ Mr. John GrantI am informed that the Manpower Services Commission (Training Services Agency) expect to spend about £800,000 in the current financial year on advertising courses available through the training opportunities scheme. Of this amount, sums of £90,000, £60,000 and £650,000 will cover television, national Press and local Press advertising respectively. This has been a broadly based advertising campaign, and no special emphasis has so far been given to opportunities for the disabled. But the Commission is just introducing a special programme of marketing support for the disabled which involves a range of printed material, posters and films.
The advertising expenditure on television and in the national Press relates to a current campaign and full information about the number of inquiries resulting is not yet available. No overall figures are available on the results of the very numerous regional advertising activities, but their effectiveness is closely monitored at local level.