§ Mr. SimsTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many requests have been made by youth training scheme trainees for communications support under the communication service for the deaf;
(2) what information he has as to the number of youth training scheme trainees who have been provided with communication support under the communication service for the deaf.
§ Mr. CopeSince the communication service for the deaf was introduced in April 1986, a total of 172 trainees have been provided with communication support. I am not aware of any application for such support having been refused.
§ Mr. SimsTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how much money has been allocated by his Department to fund the communication service for the deaf on the youth training scheme since it was established; and how much of this has actually been spent.
§ Mr. CopeThe communication service for the deaf was introduced in April 1986 and in the first year of its operation £248,000 was allocated to the service and £73,588 was spent. In the current financial year, £254,000 was allocated and £160,884 had been spent up to the end of January 1988.