§ Lord Barnbyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the proportion of registered unemployed persons taking advantage of the wide-ranging instruction facilities provided by the Government so as to qualify for alternative employment when available.
The Minister of State, Department of Employment (The Earl of Gowrie)The main Government programme providing training for unemployed people is the Manpower Services Commission's Training Opportunities Scheme. The Commission estimate that at any one time in 1980 there were on average 37,000 people on TOPS courses. The majority had previously been unemployed and they are estimated to represent just over 1 per cent. of the average total number of unemployed (excluding school-leavers) in Great Britain during 1980.
The Manpower Services Commission also operates the Youth Opportunities Programme, one aim of which is to provide unemployed young people with the basic skills necessary for them to get, and keep, jobs. At the latest date for which statistics are available, in March 1981, there were 139,800 young people on YOP courses.
House adjourned at two minutes past nine o'clock.