§ Mr. Boothasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has revised the programme of expenditure of the Manpower Services on the youth opportunities programme and special temporary employment programme; on what date he informed the chairman of the Manpower Services Commission of his decision; and whether he will make a statement giving details of his decision.
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§ Mr. Jim LesterThe resources available to the Manpower Services Commission for its special programmes for unemployed people are still under review, as are other forms of public expenditure. My right hon. Friend will be making a statement on the matter in due course.
§ Mr. Strawasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many individuals in the Blackburn area have participated in schemes under (a) the youth opportunities programme, (b) community industry, (c) the special temporary employment programme and (d) the job introduction scheme for disabled people, from the inception of each programme to date; and what was the cost involved in each case.
§ Mr. Jim LesterI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that in the period 1 April 1978 to end May 1979 a total of 402 young people entered the youth opportunities programme, and 166 adults entered the special temporary employment programme in the local authority district of Blackburn. I regret that financial information could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
There is no community industry in the Blackburn area and therefore no schemes have been mounted. A total of 10 placings were made during the period under the job introduction scheme for disabled people at a cost of £1,800.
§ Mr. Strawasked the Secretary of State for Employment in respect of how many employees, and how many firms in the Blackburn area (a) temporary employment subsidy and supplement, (b) small firms employment subsidy, (c) job release scheme allowance, (d) temporary short-time working compensation, general and for textile clothing and footwear sectors, and (e) any other job subsidy assistance was made available in each of the years 1973 to 1978 inclusive, and as near to date in the current year as possible, and in each case, at what cost.
§ Mr. Jim LesterI shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.
§ Mr. John Grantasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give an assurance that the job release scheme, including the special extension for disabled people, the small firms employment subsidy, the youth opportunities 77W programme and the special temporary employment programme will continue in their present form or will be expanded; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Jim LesterWe are making a thorough review of all the special employment measures to ensure that they are focused on the areas and groups which particularly need assistance. We hope to announce our decisions soon.