§ Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the most recent details of how many people have been awarded career development loans; in what occupational sectors; and what was the status of those awarded loans at the time of application—employed, unemployed, student, trainee and other; and the destinations of recipients and the average cost of each place.
§ Mr. CopeAs at 31 December 1988, a total of 1,706 people had obtained career development loans, 655 of whom had obtained their loans during the pilot phase of the scheme. The training courses undertaken were in the following occupational sectors:
Numbers Management 249 Commercial/professional 215 Shorthand/typing 140 Processing 9 Engineering 37 Construction 30 Hotel/Catering 6 Service/Retail 137 Computer Skills 156 Clerical 40 Science/Technology 129 Automotive 1 Flying Occupations 102 Driving Occupations 217 Health 184 Miscellaneous 54 At 31 December 1988, a total of 678 trainees were recorded as having been unemployed at the time of application, 814 as employed and 214 as "other".
Of those individuals who, at 31 December 1988, had responded to a follow-up questionnaire 81 per cent. had obtained employment following their course, and a further 3 per cent. had gone on to further training.
The average size of a career development loan at the end of 1988 was £2,400, although loans have been taken
626Wbenefit disallowed for failing to attend a restart interview,(d) been referred to a claimant adviser as a result of a restart interview and,(e) been referred to the diablement resettlement officer.
§ Mr.LeeThe information requested is shown in the table:
out across the full available range, from £300 to £5,000. The Government pay the interest on the loans during the period of training and for up to three months afterwards.