§ Mr. Cabornasked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) whether the Manpower Services Commission indicated to him that the agreed allocation for the current financial year would be inadequate to finance the demand for unfilled places on schemes not approved, and unfilled places on approved schemes (a) nationally, (b)for Yorkshire and Humberside region, and (c) for the metropolitan district of Sheffield;
(2) if he has increased the allocation for places for the community programme in the current financial year (a) nationally, (b)for Yorkshire and Humberside region, and (c) for the metropolitan district of Sheffield;
(3) if the Secretary of State will take immediate action to ensure that the Manpower Services Commission complies with its undertaking relating to community programme schemes, Nos M.SHC. 0123.3, L.SHC 0124.3 and S.SHC 0132.3, approved under its agreement with Sheffield city council and allow places on these courses now to be filled.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonThe budget for the programme allowed for a build-up to 130,000 filled places by March 1984. It recently becamme apparent that the original cash limit for 1983–84 would have been exceeded because places in all areas were being filled rather faster than expected. We are now providing an additional £10 million for this financial year to cover costs above the original estimate. Even so, however, the Manpower Services Commission will have to control carefully the filling of places for the rest of the financial year in order to remain within the revised cash limit. There has been no increase in the allocation of places nationally. The allocation of places for the Yorkshire and Humberside region was increased in June this year from 13,000 to 14,300—an increase of 10 per cent. Sponsors of projects, such as those referred to by the hon. Member, which are approved but have not yet started, are being asked not to fill any new places for the time being. The position will be reviewed early next year.