§ Mr. Parkasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are presently covered by the training opportunities scheme; and if he will make a statement on the future level and balance of this scheme.
§ Mr. Jim LesterI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that in March 1979, 39,560 adults were undergoing training under the training opportunities scheme. It is now expected that 70,000 adults will complete TOPS courses in1979–80 Compared with the previous plan for this year there will be reductions in a number of courses, particularly in clerical in commercial subjects, but training for technicians and main computer related occupations and training for
134Wtraining in colleges and employers' establishments is negotiated according to requirements, therefore the number of trainees which can be accommodated is not fixed.
There are 70 skillcentres and 32 annexes in Great Britain which, in March 1979, had a total of 18,326 places available.
The disposition of skillcentres between regions, with places available, is as follows:
the main craft occupations in skill-centres will remain largely unaffected and there will be no reduction in disabled people's training. During 1978 the TOPS scheme was the subject of a major review which included recommendations designed to make it more responsive to the needs of employers. This intention remains.
§ Mr. Parkasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many applications were made under the training opportunities scheme to the nearest convenient date, on a regional and national basis.
§ Mr. Jim LesterI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that during the financial year 1978–79, 159,181 applications were made by adults aged 19 and over for training under the TOPS scheme.
135WA breakdown of these applications by region is as follows:
Scotland 20,419 Northern 12,057 Yorks and Humberside 12,228 North-West 26,053 Midlands 20,086 Wales 10,327 South-West 10,521 South-East 24,091 London 23,399
§ Mr. Parkasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are presently covered by the youth opportunities programme; and if he will make a statement on the future level and balance of this programme.
§ Mr. Jim LesterI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that at the end of May, the latest date for which figures are available, an estimated 62,000 young people were participating in the youth opportunities programme. By the same date approximately 180,000 young people had joined the programme since it began on 1 April 1978.
The youth opportunities programme has been revised in the light of recent expenditure cuts. The budget for the programme has been reduced by £25.2 million. The original target for 1979–80 was to have between 100–120,000 filled places at the peak of the year ending 31 March 1980. The aim will be to remain within the range of the above targets though there will be a small reduction in the number of young people participating in the programme at its peak. Savings will be made by shifting provision towards less expensive opportunities. There will also be a reduction in the length of time which young people remain in the programme. These changes, together with a current level of occupancy which is below that forecast, will enable the required savings to be achieved. The revised programme still envisages a substantial increase over last year's achievements.