Community Programme (Hansard, 23 January 1984)

§ Mr. Corbett
asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many community programmes, by name and purpose, have had funds withdrawn from them by the Manpower Services Commission in Birmingham and the west midlands; what sums of money are involved; and in each case what was the original funding and what is the planned period of operation;
(2) how many community programme schemes, by name, purpose and the numbers involved, are currently being held in abeyance in Birmingham because of funding difficulties.

§ Mr. Peter Morrison
No community programme projects in Birmingham and the west midlands have had funds withdrawn or are now being held in abeyance because of funding difficulties. However, nearly all the places available for Birmingham and the west midlands within the national ceiling of 130,000 filled places have already been allocated and renewal of existing projects cannot be guaranteed.

§ Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are now engaged in the community programme; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Peter Morrison
On 20 December 1983, 114,982 people were employed in temporary jobs funded by the community programme.
Within a year the community programme has been more than trebled in size from 30,000 to well over 100,000 filled places for the long-term unemployed. This enormous success is owed to the efforts of the Manpower Services Commission and of all the sponsors, many of them voluntary bodies, who have organised projects under the programme.
We allocated in November a further £10 million to the programme but it was necessary as an interim measure to limit the filling of places in order to remain within even that higher cash limit until the position could be reviewed.
In the light of the Commission's financial position, my right hon. Friend announced on 10 January that, subject to parliamentary approval, a further £15 million should be allocated to the programme this financial year. This will enable the Commission to build up the programme to 130,000 filled places by the spring.