HC Deb 28 November 1988 vol 142 c111W
Mr. Leighton

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many participants in employment training are over 50 years of age; and what percentage that is of the total.

Mr. Nicholls

The information requested is not yet all available and will not be available in the precise form requested. However, early indications suggest that 5 per cent. of those starting training are aged 51 and over.

Mr. Leighton

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many managing agencies which ran community programme schemes are now operating employment training schemes; and what percentage this is of the total.

Mr. Nicholls

The information requested is not available. However, at 9 September there were 1,126 training managers and 169 training agents involved in employment training. The majority of former community programe providers are included in these totals or operating as subcontractors to other training managers.

Mr. Harris

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what backlog exists in interviewing applicants for employment training.

Mr. Nicholls

[holding answer 25 November 1988]: Applicants to employment training awaiting individual assessment with a training agent are waiting on average two weeks from the time they are referred to the programme. The aim is to reduce the waiting period to five days by the second half of December.