§ Mr. Leightonasked the Paymaster General how much the community programme will cost in the current year (a) gross and (b) net.
§ Mr. LeeThe current cash limit for the community programme is £1,061.million. This is £5 million lower than the initial cash limit, reflecting a take-up of the scheme which has been slightly lower than expected.
The net cost of the programme is about £440 million, some 40 per cent. of gross costs.
§ Mr. Leightonasked the Paymaster General what efforts are made, and to what extent it is a specific part of the objects of the community programme, to place participants in a job at the end of their 12 months.
§ Mr. LeeA principal aim of the community programme is to help unemployed people secure permanent employment. Many sponsors provide training in job search skills and participants are granted time off with pay to visit their local jobcentre and attend interviews with local employers.
§ Mr. Ernie Rossasked the Paymaster General if he will make a statement about proposed reductions in community programme plans in 1987–88; and if he will provide a breakdown of the reductions as between the voluntary sector and the private sector for each of the Manpower Services Commission areas.
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§ Mr. Parryasked the Paymaster General when he expects the Aigburth and Lark Lane community care project, details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Liverpool, Riverside, to be approved; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LeeProposals for projects under the community programme are considered by the appropriate local office of the Manpower Services Commission with the advice of the area manpower board. I understand that, in this case, a formal proposal has not yet been put forward by the Aigburth and Lark Lane community care project to the local office of the Manpower Services Commission. The details sent by the hon. Member for Liverpool, Riverside are insufficient for the Commission to reach a decision.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Paymaster General if he is satisfied with the working of the community programme; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LeeYes, I am very satisfied with the operation of the community programme, which is providing worthwhile work experience for 300,000 unemployed people each year on projects which bring benefit to the community. Survey evidence shows that around a third of those who take part go straight from the programme into employment or training and about half will have had at least one job or training within 12 months of leaving.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Paymaster General if he will list in the Official Report the Manpower Services Commission community programmes in the city of Liverpool at the latest date; and how many are employed on each project.
§ Mr. LeeA table listing the number of community programme agencies and independent sponsored projects administered by the Manpower Services Commission's Merseyside inner community programme area office, and the number employed on each is as follows. The information was collated on 16 January 1987.
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Agency Number Employed Merseyside Council for Voluntary Service 342 Community Task Force 353 Liverpool RC Archdiocese 226 NACRO 306 Liverpool Diocesan Care and Repair Association 233 Diggers 111 Toxteth Activities Group 93 Spina Bifida Community Service 61 Speke Enterprises Ltd. 108 Liverpool & Youth Workers Consortium 76 Merseyside Improvements Ltd. 727 Fazakerley & District 156 Liverpool Health Authority 98 North West Community Services Ltd 249 Ners 77 Landlife 57 South Sefton Health Authority 140 Christ Church Council 56 Merseyside Youth Association 446 AT4 339 Aintree Parish Church 60 Services for People in Need 201 G Force 635 Total 5,150
Agency Number Employed Independent sponsors Agricultural Training Ltd. 50 British Deaf Association 7 Greenbank Project 42 North City Cab 45 Priority Management Group 33 Dankfield House 47 Merseyside Everyman Theatre Ltd. 18 Society of Biophysical Medicine 19 Dovecot Residents Community Scheme 45 Mersey Heritage 38 Mountain Venture Outdoor Education Prog 23 Liverpool Personal Services Society 5 Merseyside Probation Service (Speke) 7 Pre-School Education Resource Centre 18 L'Arche 17 Liverpool Childrens Holiday Organisation 5 Merseyside Chamber of Commerce 6 Boys' Brigade 4 L'pool Voluntary Society for the Blind 8 Rice Lane Community Association 67 West Everton Age Concern 80 Charles Wootton Centre 24 Anfield Foundation 12 Aware Merseyside Trust 6 Bangladeshi Family Welfare 13 Liverpool YMCA—'Y' Sport 34 Merseyside Energy Advice Unit 12 North Everton Laundry 38 Total 723 Grand Total 5,873