HC Deb 28 October 1992 vol 212 cc711-2W
Mrs. Ray Michie

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans there are to halt the loss of the jurisdiction of the Commissioners for Local

Great Britain training expenditure (cash prices)1
£ million
1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92
YT2 1,008 1,020 1,002 844 846
ET3 380 615 1,107 1,076 842
Enterprise allowance scheme/business and enterprise support4 193 250 212 184 184
1 The figures quoted are cash prices. The data necessary to adjust these figures for inflation (ie retail prices index—all items) can be found in table 6.4 of the Employment Gazette for April 1992 and in table 26 of the annual supplement to Economic Trends for April of earlier years. These publications are available in the Library.
2 Youth training includes expenditure on training credits from April 1991.
3 ET was introduced from September 1988. Figures for the period prior to that date include expenditure on training measures which were replaced by ET, but do not include employment measures such as the community programme.
4 It is not possible to distinguish expenditure on EAS from other enterprise and business support programmes delivered since 1987–88.
Average seasonally adjusted unemployment figures
Great Britain Thousands
Number
1987–88 2,554.9
1988–89 2,030.4
1989–90 1,599.4
1990–91 1,660.3
1991–92 2,346.8

The Department's employment and training programmes are aimed at supporting economic growth by promoting a competitive, efficient and flexible labour market. Our commitment to helping unemployed people through the opportunities provided will continue to be met through the employment service and through the training and enterprise councils.

Administration in Scotland following the introduction of compulsory competitive tendering and the provision of local government services by outside agencies.

Mr. Stewart

[holding answer 27 October 1992]: Although the commissioner has no jurisdiction over the activities of private companies undertaking local authority services, the ultimate statutory responsibility for the provision of such services rests with local authorities. In such circumstances the powers of the commissioner to investigate complaints by members of the public are not diminished. The Government keep the commissioner's powers under regular review.