§ Ms AbbottTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the new £25 million fund for training and enterprise councils announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his Budget statement of 16 March; when he will invite applications for this fund; and if he will make a statement.
§ Miss WiddecombeA prospectus inviting training and enterprise councils to bid for TEC challenge funds was issued on 13 April and the successful bids were announced on 13 July. Copies of both the prospectus and a list of winning bids have been placed in the Library.
§ Mr. RookerTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the training and enterprise councils which have designated specific budgets to assist with student hardship in the further education sector.
§ Miss WiddecombeThe Department does not allocate specific funds to training and enterprise councils to assist with student hardship in the further education sector. TECs would be able to use their own resources to do this if they
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Great Britain (not seasonally adjusted) Percentage of total ILO unemployed Duration of ILO unemployment (per cent.) All Over six months Over one year Black 4 100 78 53 Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi 4 100 77 48 White 90 100 75 42 Others1 2 100 77 36 All ethnic groups 100 100 75 42 2 Includes those of mixed origin and other Asian groups not elsewhere specified. chose, but information is not held by the Department on those that may have set aside specific budgets for this purpose.