§ Ms. ShortTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many entrants there were to the community programme in the 12 months to April, in the 12 months to July and in the final six months of the programme; and what proportion were (i) to full time places, (ii) men, (iii) single, (iv) aged over 25 years, (v) unemployed for over 12 months and (vi) formerly benefit claimants.
§ Mr. NichollsIn the 12 months to April 1988 there were 266,996 entrants to the community programme. In the 12 months to July 1988, there were 247,034 entrants. Their characteristics were as follows:
April per cent. July per cent. Full time 11.4 11.2 Male 74.3 74.1 Single 70.2 68.1 Over 25 47.3 50.4 Unemployed over 12 months 87.1 88.4 Former benefit claimants 96.1 95.7 In the final six months of the programme (March—August 1988), there were 106,356 entrants. Characteristics for these entrants are not available separately.
§ Ms. ShortTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many individuals, previously employed as supervisors and key workers in the community programme, have been made redundant since January 1988; how many claims for help with redundancy payments by CP agencies and sponsors the Training Commission/Training Agency have paid out in that same period; and what is the total amount that the TC/TA has paid out in redundancy compensation for the community programme since January.
§ Mr. Nicholls£494,807.28 was reimbursed to community programme agents and sponsors for redundancy payments during the period January 1988 to September 1988. The remaining information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
§ Ms. ShortTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many community programme workers have transferred to employment training benefit plus arrangements; whether they are counted as new entrants to the employment training scheme; and how many people have started on and left the employment training training allowance since September.
§ Mr. NichollsInformation on the number of community programme participants who have transferred to employment training and the number of people that have started on and left the programme is not yet available.
663WCommunity programme workers who transfer to employment training are not counted as new entrants.
§ Mr. Harry BarnesTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has plans to extend the community programme to applicants who fail to qualify for unemployment benefit or income support.
§ Mr. NichollsThe community programme has been superseded by employment training which started on 5 September and represents a major investment in improving the work skills of long-term unemployed people. Receipt of unemployment benefit or income support is not a requirement for entry to employment training, although entrants will normally need to have been unemployed and available for work for 26 weeks or more.