§ Mr. Craigenasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many job creation programme schemes have been approved but not implemented, giving a breakdown according to type of scheme, number of jobs, potential cost, and reason for non-operation.
§ Mr. GoldingI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that detailed information about job creation programme schemes approved but not implemented is not available. It is estimated, however, that there have been about 500 such schemes since the programme began in October 1975, out of a total of some 15,000 schemes approved.
Reasons for schemes not starting include shortage of unemployed skilled labour, conversion of projects to a scheme funded under one of the new special programes and withdrawal of the scheme by the sponsor subsequent to MSC approval.