§ Mr. Steelasked the Paymaster General if he will make it his policy to increase the average wage for community programme employees to £69 per week; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LangI refer the right hon. Member to my reply on 19 February, at column 183. The average wage is under review.
§ Sir Trevor Skeetasked the Paymaster General how many community programme schemes have been submitted to the Manpower Services Commission for approval in England in the past year; and how many have been actually approved giving the total number of people covered by such schemes.
§ Mr. LangIt is not possible, except at disproportionate cost, to identify the project applications submitted to the Manpower Services Commission in the past year and subsequently approved or rejected. However, the stock of projects in England has increased from 6,500 providing 104,500 jobs at the end of January 1985, to 8,100 providing 144,500 jobs on 31 January 1986.