HC Deb 20 February 1996 vol 272 cc102-3W
Sir Ralph Howell

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many employers in the Margate travel-to-work area participate in the workstart scheme. [15830]

Mr. Forth

This information is not available for the town of Margate. Margate was included in the east Kent workstart pilot which ended in December 1994. It is estimated that over 400 employers had by then participated in east Kent.

Sir Ralph Howell

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how many employers were involved in the north-east workstart pilot scheme; what was the average number of employees participating in the scheme in each firm; and what was the overall cost or saving to public funds in each case; [15825]

(2) how many employers were involved in the Devon and Cornwall workstart pilot scheme; what was the average number of employees participating in the scheme in each firm; and what was the overall cost or saving to public funds in each case; [15826]

(3) how many employers were involved in the south London workstart pilot scheme; what was the average number of employees participating in the scheme in each firm; and what was the overall cost or saving to public funds in each case; [15827]

(4) how many employers were involved in the east Kent workstart pilot scheme; what was the average number of employees participating in the scheme in each firm; and what was the overall cost or saving to public funds in each case. [15828]

Mr. Forth

The first workstart pilot took place in Devon and Cornwall, Kent, Tyneside and south west London between July 1993 and December 1994. Information on participating employees and employers at the end of September is as follows:

Pilot Participants Employers
Kent 418 380
Devon and Cornwall 475 309
Tyneside 222 130
South West and South London 210 144

By the end of December 1994, the total number of participating employees in the four pilots had reached 1,575, and it is estimated that over 1,000 employers had been involved. The total programme costs were £2.7 million. Savings to the Exchequer from any employment arise from long-term improvements in the functioning of the labour market and cannot be calculated in the terms requested.