§ Mr. CarringtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people have taken up career development loans since the launch of the scheme in 1986; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. CopeSince April 1986, 2,740 career development loans have been approved, 655 during the pilot phase and 2,085 since the scheme was launched nationally in July 1988. The total approved loan value is currently some £6.5 million.
The growth in the number of career development loans since they became available nationally last year has been 583W very encouraging. It has shown that many people both employed and unemployed, are willing to invest in their own future by paying for vocational training of their own choice to improve their job prospects.