§ Dr. Hampsonasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many recipients of training opportunities scheme awards are aged 19 to 24 years, how many 24 to 28 years and how many over 28 years.
§ Mr. GoldingI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the latest available information is as shown in the following table:
Numbers in training under TOPS at 31st January 1978 Aged 19–24 … … 12,495 Aged 25–29 … … 8,211 Aged over 29 … … 17,349
§ Dr. Hampsonasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many recipients of training opportunities scheme awards in the last year took courses at a post-graduate level; how many at semi-skilled and craft levels; and how many at alternative other levels are eligible for training opportunities scheme awards.
§ Mr. GoldingI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that in the financial year 1977–78 approximately 1,200 people took postgraduate courses under TOPS. The rest of the information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The MSC has, however, supplied the following information:
TOPS and Young People Completions 1977–78 Management courses 6,974 Craft and semi-skilled level Engineering and automotive trades 24,962 Construction trades 6,650 At various levels Heavy goods vehicle driving 4,925 Clerical and commercial courses (eg wages clerk's courses, secretarial with languages, audio typing, sales representatives' courses) 35,835 Miscellaneous courses (eg civil engineering, chemical science, crane operating, flat lock machining) 19,618 TOTAL 98,964 It is estimated that these figures include 16,000 young people who completed short industrial courses and a further 10,000 adults being trained to semiskilled level.
506W
§ Dr. Hampsonasked the Secretary of State for Employment pursuant to the Written Answer to the hon. Member for Ripon, Official Report 26th May, column 780, what is the cost per place in each of the categories listed.
§ Mr. GoldingI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the annual average cost per training place at skillcentres by category is as shown below The costs are based on expenditure for 1976–77 and include average training allowances of £1,978 a year and an attribution for overheads in addition to those incurred at skillcentres.
£ Construction … 4,837 Engineering … 5,001 Plant and Automotive … 5,135 Miscellaneous … 4,764 Estimated present average annual costs per place for clerical and commercial courses and heavy goods vehicle Driving courses are shown below, including annual training allowances of £1,952 and £1,964 respectively and an attribution for overheads as for skillcentres:
£ Clerical and commercial … 4,490 HGV driving … 9,930