HC Deb 27 March 1979 vol 965 cc97-8W
18. Mr. Hoyle

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are his latest estimates for the number of jobs currently supported by the various job creation and support schemes.

21. Mr. Michael McNair-Wilson

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons are currently in employment as a result of Government-financed schemes.

Mr. Golding

The number of people currently assisted by the special employment and training measures for which I am responsible is estimated to be 253,000.

Details of the numbers of people assisted under the various schemes are as follows:

Temporary employment subsidy 73,000
Short-time working compensation scheme 10,300
Small firms employment subsidy 26,000
Job release scheme 21,900
Adult employment subsidy 650
Job introduction scheme 220
Youth opportunities programme 75,000
Community industry 5,100
Special temporary employment programme 12,000
Training places supported in industry (at end of January 1979) 29,000

27. Mr. Ioan Evans

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what further employment measures he intends to introduce to reduce unemployment.

Mr. Golding

My right hon. Friend announced on 20 February and 8 March the special employment measures operated by my Department and the Manpower Services Commission which will be available for the year commencing 1 April 1979. Discussions are still proceeding on a labour subsidy scheme to help firms to restructure their activities with the aim of putting jobs that are at risk on a secure and viable basis.

40. Mr. Rifkind

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what further initiatives he intends to take in order to reduce the level of unemployment.

Mr. Golding

My right hon. Friend announced on 20 February and 8 March the special employment measures operated by my Department and the Manpower Services Commission which will be available for the year commencing 1 April 1979. Discussions are still proceeding on a labour subsidy scheme to help firms to restructure their activities with the aim of putting jobs that are at risk on a secure and viable basis.

45. Mr. Tim Renton

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will commission a study on the employment effects of all Government expenditure on job preservation and job creation schemes, and on the average cost to the taxpayer per job created and per job preserved.

Mr. Golding

No. The employment effects and costs of special employment measures for which my Department and the Manpower Services Commission are responsible are already under constant evaluation.

Mr. Ridley

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what he estimates to be the annual cost to public funds per job, of job creation schemes, and job saving schemes, respectively.

Mr. Golding

The annual gross costs to public funds per job is currently £1,650 on average under job creation schemes, and £1,040 under job saving schemes run by my Department and the Manpower Services Commission.