§ Mr. Thurnhamasked the Paymaster General how many unemployed people have taken part in the wider opportunities training scheme since its inception; what percentage of those taking part subsequently found employment and what was the individual cost of providing each job.
§ Mr. TrippierThe wider opportunities training programme was introduced in April 1985 as one of the Manpower Services Commission's adult training programmes. It built on work preparation, its predecessor under the training opportunities scheme. At January 1986, 41,300 unemployed people were in or had completed training under the WOTP. Follow-up results for the first six months of 1985–86 show that 51 per cent. of trainees had found employment or further training three months after completion of their course, at an estimated cost of £1,337 for each person helped.