§ Dr. Hampsonasked the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his Written Answer to the hon. Member for Ripon, Official Report, 26th May, column 779, why no separate costing record is maintained for wider opportunities courses when unit costs are available for all other Manpower Services Commission schemes.
§ Mr. GoldingI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that a system for producing current costing information is being installed. Until then assessments are made of average place costs in arrears. The assessed cost of a wider opportunities course place, assuming full occupancy, for 1976–77 in skill-centres was £4,500 per annum. This includes the average trainee allowance of £1,900 per annum.
I shall write to the hon. Member shortly about the number of persons completing wider opportunities courses with the estimated annual cost.