§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what conclusions and evaluations of the Opportunity 2000 initiative have been made; and what plans she has to ask training and enterprise councils to report to her on their plans for increasing child care provision and training for 1993–94.
§ Mr. McLoughlinOpportunity 2000 is not an Employment Department initiative and arrangements for its formal evaluation are those for Business in the Community to make. However, the lessons learnt so far have been that issues concerning people returning to the labour market, who are predominantly women, are being addressed in a positive and constructive way. An increasing number of employers are realising the important contribution that women make towards economic growth and stability.
319WTECs are required to support, where necessary, the child care costs of those in the youth training guarantee group and may make similar help available to those entering the new adult programme, Training for Work.
From 1 April 1993 TECs will also be able to apply for a new child care grant. The purpose of the grant is for TECs, working closely with other agencies, such as local authorities and schools, to promote, set up and run after-school childcare provision.
TECs will continue to be monitored by my Department, as they have been since their introduction.