§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to increase job prospects for the unskilled unemployed on Merseyside.
§ Mr. Jim Lester[pursuant to his reply, 27 November 1980]: Employment prospects for everyone who is unemployed on Merseyside, whether they are skilled or unskilled, depend in the long term on the country's success in the battle against inflation. We must restore our international competitiveness if the new jobs we need so badly are to be created.
In the shorter term, job prospects for the unskilled can, of course be improved by training. It was for this reason that the new programme of special measures which was announced last week contains a strong training element. Merseyside is likely to benefit substantially from this ambitious £570 million programme.
More generally, the Manpower Services Commission offers a wide variety of training on Merseyside, including, 229W for example, the Merseyside advisory and training unit, set up under the training opportunities scheme (TOPS), which provides training and work preparation for some 200 unemployed adults in a full year. Altogether some 8,600 people are expected to start TOPS courses on Merseyside in 1980–81.
Finally, the MSC recently announced a further 1,500—now increased to 1,726—apprenticeship places to be supported nationally under the training for skills programme, as part of its response to the current high level of youth unemployment. Merseyside, as an area of high unemployment, will benefit from this extra assistance.