§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will give details, for each subject, of the percentage of disabled people placed in employment (a) within three months of completing a training opportunities programme course in that subject in 1982, and (b) within six months of completing a training opportunities programme course in that subject in 1982;
(2) what percentage of disabled people who completed training opportunities programme or equivalent courses in the periods (a) 1963 to 1967, (b) 1968 to 1972, (c) 1973 to 1978 and (d) 1978 to 1982 were placed in employment (i) within three months of completing the course and (ii) within six months of completing the course.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonThe information available relates to disabled people placed in employment within three months of completing a course under the training opportunities programme—TOPS—in the financial years 1979–80 to 1981–82. This is as follows:
Per cent. 1979–80 58 1980–81 35 1981–82 32 There has recently been an increase in the proportion of all TOPS trainees gaining employment following completion of their training, and I would expect this to be reflected in the figures for disabled trainees also.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps his Department takes to monitor the effectiveness of training opportunities programme training for disabled people; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonThe contribution which courses under the training opportunities programme makes to meeting employers' needs is kept under constant review, so as to maximise the opportunities for both able-bodied and disabled trainees to find subsequent employment. Consideration is currently being given to a review of those courses supported under the programme which are specifically designed to meet the needs of disabled people.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the upper age limit for disabled people for entry to training opportunities programme courses.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonSupport is not offered under the training opportunities scheme to people who would reach normal retirement age before completing training but there is no specific upper age limit for either able-bodied or disabled people. In considering individual applications for training, account is taken of the job opportunities likely to be available at the end of a course.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many disabled people completed 704W training opportunities programme or equivalent courses in the period (a) 1963 to 1967, (b) 1968 to 1972, (c) 1973 to 1978 and (d) 1978 to 1982.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonThe information available relates to financial years from 1972–73 and is as follows:
Number 1972–73 3,437 1973–74 3,863 1974–75 3,319 1975–76 3,309 1976–77 4,702 1977–78 5,340 1978–79 4,770 1979–80 4,523 1980–81 4,080 1981–82 4,191 1982–83 4,289
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list, according to subject, the training opportunities programme courses attended by disabled people in 1982 and the number of disabled people who attended each course.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonThe information is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many able-bodied people completed training opportunities programme or equivalent courses in the periods (a) 1963 to 1967, (b) 1968 to 1972, (c) 1972 to 1978 and (d) 1979 to 1982.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonThe information available relates to financial years from 1972–73 and is as follows:
Number 1972–73* 29,259 1973–74* 37,545 1974–75* 46,223 1975–76* 61,294 1976–77* 86,621 1977–78 73,273 1978–79 65,417 1979–80 69,966 1980–81 62,338 1981–82 57,205 1982–83 55,011 * Includes young people trained under the training opportunities programme in these years. Under the proposals announced in the White Paper "Training for Jobs" (Cmnd. 9135) on a new adult training strategy, it is expected that the numbers benefiting from public training programmes will increase significantly.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of able-bodied people who completed training opportunities programme or equivalent courses in the periods (a) 1963 to 1967, (b) 1968 to 1972, (c) 1973 to 1977 and (d) 1978 to 1982 were placed in employment (i) within three months of completing the course and (ii) within six months of completing the course.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonThe information is available only for the financial years 1979–80, 1980–81 and 1981–82, and only for those placed in employment within three months of completing a course. The percentages are as follows:
705W
Per cent. 1979–80 72 1980–81 54 1981–82 48