HC Deb 05 December 1986 vol 106 cc837-9W
Ms. Richardson

asked the Paymaster General (1) what steps his Department are taking to encourage manual and

June 1979 June 1983 June 1986
Yorkshire and Humberside 2,011 1,764 1,745
North West 2,676 2,346 2,398
North 1,248 1,045 1,033
Wales 1,033 902 903
Scotland 2,102 1,924 1,953

Table 2—Self-employed
Thousand
June 1979 June 1983 June 1986
South East 651 730 954
East Anglia 79 94 120
South West 146 213 258
West Midlands 141 177 189
East Midlands 116 157 160
Yorkshire and Humberside 134 169 238
North West 214 224 280
North 77 91 110
Wales 124 126 154
Scotland 160 179 203

Mr. Gordon Brown

asked the Paymaster General if he will publish a table showing the number of additional (a) jobs in service industries, (b) jobs in banking, insurance and finance, (c) self-employed and (d) small business, starts over stops, created in (i) the south-east and (ii) the south-east, south-west, and East Anglia as a proportion of the total additional jobs created throughout the country in these categories.

Mr. Trippier

The following table gives the available estimates of changes in employment:

technical skills training courses for women in skillcentres; and how many women-only manual and technical skills courses in skillcentres there are nationally;

(2) pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Barking on 28 November, why the closure of the women into manual skills' course at Deptford skillcentre was carried out without consultation with the London boroughs of Southwark, Lewisham and Greenwich; and whether the Manpower Services Commission has received representations alleging racism and sexism at Deptford skillcentre;

(3) if he will instruct the Manpower Services Commission to co-operate with the inquiry sponsored by the London boroughs of Southwark, Lewisham and Greenwich to look into allegations of racism and sexism at the Deptford skillcentre;

(4) how many (a) women and (b) men are currently undergoing training courses at skillcentres in the Greater London area; how many are currently undergoing courses at the Deptford skillcentre; and which courses they are taking.

Mr. Trippier

I shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.