§ Mr. Wainwrightasked the Paymaster General (1) whether the training being offered to the six-month 524W unemployed and the required certificate or qualification is going to be linked to other established schemes and lead to established qualifications;
(2) what types of training are to be covered in the pilot scheme for job training for the six-month unemployed;
(3) what criteria, apart from age, the restart counsellor will be using to decide whether an interviewee is eligible for the pilot scheme for job training for the six-month unemployed;
(4) how many places are on the pilot schemes for job training for the six-month unemployed;
(5) how long he expects interviewees to wait before joining the new job training scheme for the six-month unemployed if the restart counsellor thinks he or she is suitable;
(6) what consultations he has had with the CBI regarding the new job training scheme for the six-month unemployed; and if he will make a statement;
(7) what submission he has had from the trade unions and interested groups regarding the job training scheme for the six-month unemployed;
(8) what are the criteria for assessment before, during and at the end of the pilot job training scheme for the six-month unemployed.
§ Mr. TrippierThe pilot training programme for the six-month unemployed will be operated by managing agents in collaboration with the Manpower Services Commission; it will be for each managing agent to draw as appropriate on existing courses and on new tailor-made provision to meet the particular training needs of individuals on the programme. Vocational qualifications will be made available to trainees wherever possible.
Each managing agent is expected to provide participants with initial assessment, training in occupational skills supported by relevant practical experience and an element of training in job seeking skills. They must also offer training in information technology and self-employment skills.
The programme will be open to adults in the pilot areas who have been unemployed for six months or more, as one of the aims is to establish how much demand for training there is amongst this group. It is not yet possible to say how many training places will be made available. Each managing agent will be responsible for making his own arrangements for placing individuals on the programme with the minimum possible delay. Plans for the programme were discussed by the Manpower Services Commission, on which both CBI and TUC are represented, at their meeting on 21 October.
Assessment will take place at the beginning of the programme, to establish which training elements individuals should then pursue; during the programme o review progress; and at or near the end of the programme to award qualifications and helping individuals find jobs.
§ Mr. Wainwrightasked the Paymaster General how many and what percentage of those who participated in the restart scheme have gone on to permanent employment.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeBy 9 October 366,451 people had been interviewed under restart. 30,218 of them (8.2 per cent.) are known to have ceased claiming unemployment benefit but we have no means of measuring exactly how many of these are now in permanent employment. An early survey conducted by the Manpower Services 525W Commission in the pilot areas indicated that approximately 60 per cent. of these people will have gone into employment but we are still considering the basis and the reliability of that survey.
§ Mr. Wainwrightasked the Paymaster General what criteria were used when choosing the pilot areas for restart.
§ Mr. LeeThe nine pilot areas were chosen to reflect a wide range of labour market conditions and to provide a wide geographical spread throughout Great Britain.