§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State if he will update his reply to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North, Official Report, 7 December 1979, column 358, showing each of the employment, job creation, training measures to alleviate unemployment since 1970, the date when each scheme commenced, the gross and net costs to date, the main purpose of the scheme, the age groups affected, the number of job and training places provided, the weekly wage or allowance paid and whether or not the latter is taxable.
§ Mr. Jim Lester[pursuant to his reply, 4 August 1980, c. 14]: Following is the information: 129W
130W
Measure Date of commencement Cost to 30.6.80* £ million Purpose of scheme Age groups Covered Jobs or training places provided by 30.6.80 Weekly wage or allowances Whether taxed Temporary Short-time Working Compensation 1.4.79 43.2 To encourage employers to adopt short-time working instead of making people redundant All ages 152,613 75 per cent. of normal pay These subsidies are paid to employers: the workers Small Firms Employment Subsidya 1.7.78u 65.5 To create extra jobs in small manufacturing firms in the private sector in special development and development areas All ages 193,426 £20 concerned receive normal wages which are taxable Job Release Scheme 3.1.77 157.2 To enable workers approaching statutory pensionable age to give up their jobs and make way for a younger unemployed person (a) 64 (men), 59 (women) 125,000 (a)£36 (£45.50 with dependent spouse) No (b) 60–63 (disabledmen) (b) £43 (£53 with dependent spouse) Yes Youth Opportunities Programme 1.4.78 223.5 To provide a range of opportunities for unemployed young people in training courses and work experience schemes Under 19 on entry 203,000 15 years of age—£19.50 16–18—£23.50 No Community Industry 5.8.75 50.7 To provide employment for disadvantaged young people Under 19 on entry 35,400 Local rate for the job Yes Special Temporary Employment Programme 1.4.78 69.0 To provide long-term unemployed people with temporary employment on projects which benefit the community. Special development areas, development areas, designated inner city areas Aged 19 and over 40,500 Local rate for the job Yes Training in Industry 2.7.75 180.0 To enable industry to maintain its intake of apprentices and other long-term trainees Young people, mainly school leavers 154,500 Varies Depends on type of payment * Provisional. These figures quoted are gross. Net costs are considerably less and are on average a third to a half of the gross costs due to savings on unemploy ment and supplementary benefits and the maintenance of tax revenue and national insurance contributions. a Payments will continue on some applications until 30 September 1980. u Closed for application on 31 March 1980.