HC Deb 07 February 1990 vol 166 cc654-5W
Mr. Austin Mitchell

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is his estimate of total Government spending on skills and competence for work and youth training programmes for 1989–90 and for 1992–93; and what is the cost(a) per capita of total population and (b) per trainee; what is his estimate of spending for these purposes on the same basis in (i) Holland, (ii) West Germany and (iii) France for the latest available year.

Mr. Eggar

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the public expenditure White Paper published on 30 January 1990. The total spend on skills and competence for work is forecast at £2,481 million for 1989–90 and planned at £2,392 million for 1992–93. The cost per capita of the total population is £44.60 for 1989–90 and £42.62 for 1992–93. It is not possible to provide a cost per trainee, as some of the expenditure is on programmes not directed towards individual trainees. Comparable information is not available for Holland, West Germany or France.