HC Deb 22 January 1990 vol 165 cc518-9W
Ms. Short

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many unemployed claimants since 9 October 1989, and for each region, and for Great Britain as a whole, have been(a) issued with warning letters for not actively seeking work, (b) had their claims referred to an AO for not actively seeking work, (c) had their claims allowed or disallowed and (d) have been referred to an AO for refusing suitable employment; and how many of those in (d) have had their benefits disqualified.

Mr. Eggar

The table shows the statistical information for the period 9 October to 24 November 1989 on questions of actively seeking employment and refusal of employment.

November 1989, Official Report, column 148 (a) went on to get regular employment and (b) have started for a second or subsequent time.

Mr. Nicholls

Information on the number who went on to regular employment after attending a training opportunities scheme (TOPS) in 1979–80 is set down in the Manpower Services Commission's annual report 1980–81 filed in the House of Commons Library.

Of the young people on YTS in 1988–89, 66.8 per cent. were in regular employment three months after completing their programme.

In the period April 1988 to March 1989, 12 per cent. re-entered YTS.

Mr. Ralph Howell

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the total expenditure on Government training schemes since 1972 at current and at 1989 prices; and what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the expenditure.

Mr. Nicholls

Records are kept on the basis of the standard financial year for Government expenditure, which runs from 1 April to 31 March.

The Manpower Services Commission was established in 1974. The total spent on training schemes since 1974 by the Employment Department Group Training Agency (and its predecessors, the Training Commission and the Manpower Services Commission) is as follows:

£ millions
cash value constant 1988–89 prices
1974–75 96.4 376.1
1975–76 171.7 525.2
1976–77 256.0 682.9
1977–78 292.0 693.4
1978–79 373.6 793.6
1979–80 451.4 848.8
1980–81 560.4 889.0
1981–82 749.1 1,080.8
1982–83 868.5 1,169.2
1983–84 1,049.5 1,337.5
1984–85 1,144.1 1,382.8
1985–86 1,256.9 1,441.7
1986–87 1,441.4 1,609.8
1987–88 1,613.1 1,716.4
1988–89 2,062.3 2,062.3
The figures shown at constant 1988–89 prices were calculated by use of the GDP deflator index.

Figures are inclusive of expenditure on the following programmes:

  • Training for the Needs of Industry.
  • Training for the Needs of Individuals.
  • Improving Training Effectiveness and Efficiency.
  • Training Opportunities Scheme.
  • Skillcentre Training.
  • Youth Opportunities Programme.
  • Occupational Training.
  • Adult Training.
  • Industrial Training Organisations.
  • Technical and Vocational Education Initiative.
  • Non Advanced Further Education.
  • Youth Training Scheme.
  • Scientific and Technical Equipment in Schools (STEPS).
  • Employment Training and all related administration costs net of receipts.

Figures are taken from the appropriation accounts for all years except 1985–86, 1986–87 and 1987–88 for which appropriation accounts do not provide the necessary detail. For those three years the Training Commission annual report has been used.

This growth in expenditure has been taking place at a time of rising unemployment as the economy adjusts to the demands of international competitiveness. Training schemes have provided unemployed school leavers and adults with the skills necessary to assist them back to work and help the economy.

The value for money of training schemes is monitored carefully. Cost-effectiveness will be a key aspect in the development of training and enterprise councils, when payments will be increasingly geared to the achievement of specific results.