HC Deb 01 April 1987 vol 113 cc534-5W
Mr. Prescott

asked the Paymaster General what proportion of the entrants to the community programme in the 12 months to October 1986 and December 1986 were (a) assigned to full-time places, (b) men, (c) single, (d) aged over 25 years, (e) unemployed for over 12 months and (f) formerly benefit claimants.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

The information requested is given in the table.

12 months to October 1986 12 months to December 1986
Number Per cent. Number Per cent.
Total Entrants 301,791 307,405
(a) Full time 40,440 13.4 40,270 13.1
(b) Male 230,870 76.5 234,242 76.2
(c) Single 239,018 79.2 242,542 78.9
(d) Over age 25 110,153 36.5 114,662 37.3
(e) Unemployed over 12 months 174,737 57.9 179,217 58.3
(f) (i) Former benefit claimants in direct receipt of benefit 290,624 96.3 295,723 96.2
(f) (ii) Former benefit claimants indirectly in receipt of benefit 6,215 2.0 6,348 2.0

Mr. Prescott

asked the Paymaster General how many community programme filled places were taken by community programme national initiatives in each category, crime, energy, CRS, FCI, NGF, UK2000 tourism for each Manpower Services Commission region at the most recent date.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

The information requested is as follows:

Community Programme

National Initiative Filled Places by Region 27 February 1987

Filled Places
Crime Prevention Energy Efficiency Community Refurbishment Scheme Farm and Country-side National Garden Festival UK2000 Tourism Total
South-East 175 484 163 5 929 1,756
South-West 348 558 139 1,181 2,226
East Midlands 306 409 151 323 1,161 2,350
Yorkshire and Humberside 598 607 177 477 46 1,177 3,082
North-West 1,929 624 167 40 218 2,638 5,616
Northern 1,275 442 132 334 1,470 3,653
Wales 502 896 54 8 1,418 2,878
Scotland 234 861 155 2,463 3,713
West Midlands 966 481 101 169 37 1,304 3,058
London 188 724 7 94 204 1,217
Total 6,521 6,086 577 1,534 155 731 13,945 29,549

Mr. Meacher

asked the Paymaster General how much money has been paid in unemployment benefit to people on the community programme to date.

Mr. Lee

Unemployment benefit is not payable to people working full time on the community programme; in general, those working part time have not been eligible for unemployment benefit because they were regarded as working to their full normal extent. However, they may have qualified for other benefits.

Information about benefits paid to people in part-time work is not available because such claims are not separately identified in the central computer records.