§ Miss Joan Lestorasked the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the increase in placement on the training opportunities scheme over the past four years, expressed in numerical and percentage terms; and what are the respective figures for (a) men and (b) women participating in the scheme in each of those four years.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonThe latest available information is as follows:
24 schemes have been approved and 49 applications, including some carried forward from 1981–82, are outstanding. The number of places available in the region is currently fully allocated; new schemes can therefore be accommodated only as existing ones come to an end. My right hon. Friend hopes to make a statement shortly about new measures to help more people who have been unemployed for some time.