HC Deb 25 October 1988 vol 139 cc175-6W
13. Mr. Stern

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received from Bristol city council on the employment training scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Cope

We have received no representations from Bristol city council. Its decision not to move forward into employment training is regrettable, but employment training is nevertheless operating fully in Bristol, so the job prospects of unemployed people in Bristol will not be harmed by the city council's negative attitude.

19. Mr. Key

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on implementation of the employment training scheme.

Mr. Nicholls

Employment training got off to a good start on 5 September. More than 1,000 training managers and over 150 training agents are now in operation, and there has already been tremendous interest amongst unemployed people. So far more than 133,000 people have been referred to training agents and 60,000 people have started their training with training managers.

43. Mr. Turner

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are currently participating in employment training.

86. Mr. Morgan

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are currently participating in employment training.

134. Mr. Allen McKay

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are currently participating in employment training.

Mr. Fowler

I refer to the hon. Members to my reply given earlier to the hon. Member for Worsley (Mr. Lewis).

51. Mr. Greg Knight

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received from the Transport and General Workers Union, National Union of Public Employees and National Association of Local Government Officers concerning the employment training scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Nicholls

None. It is very regrettable that unions like the TGWU, NUPE and NALGO have decided to oppose employment training, and thereby to attempt to deny long-term unemployed people the opportunity of high-quality training which will help them back into jobs.

54. Mr. Patnick

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received from the Sheffield city council on the employment training scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Nicholls

None.

110. Mr. Simon Coombs

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to meet the chairman of the Training Commission to discuss employment training; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Nicholls

No. On 15 September my right hon. Friend took back from the commission its responsibilities for running the Government's training programmes, including employment training. These functions are now being carried out by a new training agency within the Department of Employment group.

31. Mr. Thornton

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received from the Liverpool city council on the employment training scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Nicholls

My right hon. Friend has received no representations from Liverpool city council. My right hon. Friend has been granted leave to bring proceedings for judicial review in the High Court against Liverpool city council. In addition he is seeking a declaration that the decisions of the council to take action against organisations which participate in employment training are unlawful and an injunction restraining the council from implementing those decisions.

127. Mr. Janman

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to meet the general secretary of the Transport and General Workers Union to discuss the employment training scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Nicholls

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no such plans.

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