Mr. Grantasked the Secretary of State for Employment, (1) which training opportunities scheme courses are to be cut as a result of Government spending constraints; and what measures are being taken to ensure that women retain their present share of places on training opportunities scheme training schemes;
(2) what is the ratio of men to women on training opportunities scheme courses being cut and what is the ratio of men to women on courses being retained.
§ Mr. Jim Lester, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 25 June 1979], gave the following information:
The cuts in expenditure on employment and training programmes announced by my right hon. Friend in the Budget Statement includes a £22.3 million reduction 345W this year in expenditure on the training opportunities scheme. As announced by the Manpower Services Commission following the Budget, the cuts are likely to affect a wide range of training opportunities
TRAINING COMPLETIONS 1978–79 Women Men Total Numbers Per cent. Numbers Per cent. Numbers Clerical and Commercial Courses … 22,156 91 2,162 9 24,318 All TOPS Courses … … … 28,332 40 42,033 60 70,365 The precise pattern of cuts is still under consideration, but MSC and the Government are concerned to ensure that women have full and effective access to opportunities provided under TOPS.