§ Mr. BeggsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons are registered on waiting lists at each of the following government training centres(a) Felden, (b) Ballymena and (c) Ballymoney; and for how long each person has been awaiting training or re-qualification.
§ Mr. NeedhamThe following is the information:
- Felden training centre—138 (of whom 50 are waiting for short computer courses).
- Ballymena training centre—56 (of whom 21 are waiting for short computer courses).
- Ballymoney training unit—6.
Information on the length of time that each person has been on the waiting lists could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. BeggsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will make it possible for government training centres to purchase training from private sector providers or permit persons seeking training or requalification to do so at their nearest approved training facility even if it is in the private sector.
§ Mr. NeedhamIt is already possible for training centres of the Training and Employment Agency to purchase training from private and public sector providers in cases where the training required cannot be provided from the training centres' own resources. In practice, however, it is more usual for private sector providers to purchase training from the training centres. Persons seeking training or requalification may do so at any training facility regardless of whether it is in the private or public sector. Government financial support under the youth training and job training programme is available in each case.
§ Mr. BeggsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what additional costs will be incurred to public expenditure on transport costs in respect of a trainee normally resident in Larne but required to travel for training to(a) Ballymena government training centre and (b) Ballymoney government training centre.
§ Mr. NeedhamThe following is the information.
Ballymena Training Centre
- By Public Transport—£13.00 per week
- By Private Transport—£42.43 per week
Ballymoney Training Unit
- By Public Transport—£29.00 per week
- By Private Transport—£50.00 per week.