§ Mr. Merlyn Reesasked the Paymaster General what was the number of authorised and filled places on the community programme on 31 December 1986 and 31 January 1987, respectively; what is the planned number of authorised and filled places in 1987–88; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LeeOn 12 December 1986 and 31 January 1987 the number of filled places on the community programme was 247,607 and 247,531 respectively. The December figures were collected early due to the Christmas holiday period. For 1987–88 it is expected that the programme will operate at an average level over the year of about 245,000 filled places which will provide opportunities for around 300,000 entrants, about the same number as in the current year.
In order to ensure there are sufficient places available to replace the normal turnover in projects, the number of authorised places in any region may normally exceed the target for filled places by up to 15 per cent. The number of authorised places on 12 December 1986 and 31 January 1987 was 285,613 and 287,168 respectively.
§ Mr. Kennedyasked the Paymaster General what evidence he has on the relation between the regional cost per job on the community programme and the incidence of part-time and full-time positions, respectively, on the scheme; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LeeRegional variations in the cost per job on the community programme are not great. All costs fall within nationally applied limits on average wage levels and operating costs.
Regional differences in the incidence of full and part-time workers on the community programme are also relatively small and at 30 January 1987 the position was as follows:
Percentage of filled places which are: Region Full-time (35 hours or more) Part-time (Less than 35 hours) London 18.5 81.5 South-East 25.4 74.6 South-West 23.7 76.3 West Midlands 28.6 71.4 East Midlands 27.0 73.0 Wales 25.5 74.5 North-West 26.8 73.2 Scotland 23.1 76.9 North-East 22.4 77.6 Yorkshire and Humberside 24.7 75.3 Great Britain 24.7 75.3 Variations in the incidence of part-time work stem from a number of factors including the locally prevailing hourly 354W wage rates, the ratio of managers and supervisors to participant workers, the type of projects and the extent of which managing agents supplement wage payments available out of programme funds.
§ Mr. Kennedyasked the Paymaster General what information he has concerning the average cost per job on the community programme in (a) suburban, (b) inner city and (c) rural areas; if he has any plans to change the present method of funding for operating costs expenditure per participant place to take account of any disparities on cost per job variations across the regions of the country; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LeeThe average gross cost per filled place year on the community programme is £4,450, excluding administration and marketing costs. No breakdown is available between suburban, inner city, and rural areas, although the Manpower Services Commission is planning to study the operation of the community programme in a sample of rural areas.
There are no plans to change the present method of funding operating costs expenditure.
§ Mrs. Peacockasked the Paymaster General if he will list the total number of people on the community programme in Batley and Spen for each year since its inception.
§ Mr. LeeIt is not possible to give the information in the form requested. However, the number of people on the community programme in the Bradford area, which includes the areas of Batley and Spen, are given in the table.
Year Number of Entrants 1982–83 2,957 1984 3,285 1985 5,440 1986 7,799