Mr. John D. TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals he has to reduce funding for ACE projects; what is the estimated saving to public funds; if there is still recruitment to ACE schemes; how the proposals will be implemented; what representations on ACE funding he has received in the past two months; and if he will make a statement. [8972]
§ Mr. AncramResponsibility for this subject has been delegated to the Training and Employment Agency under its chief executive, Mr. Ian Walters. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Ian Walters to Mr. John D. Taylor, dated 16 January 1996:
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me as Chief Executive of the Training and Employment Agency to reply to your questions about the Action for Community Employment (ACE) programme.As you know, on Monday 11 December 1995 the Secretary of State announced details of the Public Expenditure Plans for Northern Ireland for 1996/97 and the following two years. The announcement referred to the very encouraging performance of the Northern 714W Ireland economy with unemployment now at its lowest level for 14 years and employment at record levels. He mentioned also the promise of substantial jobs from recently announced investments by major companies.Against that background the Secretary of State indicated a reduction in the funding for the ACE programme (which amounts to £12.5 million in 1996/97) to meet pressures in top priority programmes aimed at promoting self-sustaining economic growth. The targeting of available resources in this way will best meet the needs of the unemployed in the longer term.This Agency has recently written to the Chairpersons of ACE schemes to indicate the level of reduction required in each scheme to ensure that the programme operates within the resources available to it in 1996/97. Following consultations with a variety of sponsors and others with an interest in ACE, the Agency has agreed to allow ACE sponsors to determine how best they might achieve the reduction either individually or collectively. The Agency has also lifted the freeze on further recruitment into the programme which was imposed temporarily to facilitate an orderly contraction of the programme.With regard to representations, I met before Christmas several voluntary and community organisations which operate ACE schemes to discuss how the reduction could be best achieved. On 10 January I met a delegation from Belfast City Council. There has been a flurry of correspondence also with Baroness Denton and myself. The Minister plans to meet public representatives later this month.I hope that you find this reply useful. I will of course be pleased to provide further information if you would find it helpful.