HC Deb 09 December 1985 vol 88 cc541-2W
Mr. Soames

asked the Paymaster General what steps his Department is taking to improve mobility in the labour market.

Mr. Alan Clark

The Manpower Services Commission supports a wide range of training measures to help employers meet skill needs and improve the employability of individuals, which contribute to the improvement of occupational mobility within the labour market. Overall MSC spending on training is likely to be £1.2 billion this year as compared with £380 million in 1979.

To facilitate geographical mobility, there is a range of measures for making jobseekers aware through the jobcentre network of vacancies in other parts of the country and in addition the Commission operates three schemes which provide financial assistance for people moving to take hard to fill jobs in other areas. Trials are currently being undertaken to see if the effectiveness of these measures can be improved.