HC Deb 04 March 1996 vol 273 cc85-6W
Dr. Godman

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to replace the action for community employment scheme with the community work programme; and if he will make a statement. [18090]

Mr. Ancram

Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Training and Employment Agency under its chief executive, Mr. Ian Walters. I have asked him to arrange for the reply to be given.

Letter from Ian Walters to Dr. Norman A. Godman, dated 28 February 1996:

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me as Chief Executive of the Training and Employment Agency to reply to your question about the pilot Community Work Programme and ACE.

There are no plans to replace the Action for Community Employment programme with the Community Work Programme (CWP). The Training and Employment Agency will undertake during 1996/97 an evaluation of the CWP pilot as well as an in depth review of its policies and measures aimed at helping the long term unemployed back to work. It is not possible at this stage to say what changes, if any, to present programmes might result from these exercises.

I hope that you find this reply useful.

Dr. Godman

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the impact of the proposed reduction in the funding of the action for community employment scheme on the achievement of the objectives of the policy appraisal and fair treatment initiative. [17676]

Mr. Ancram

Responsibility for the subject in question 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 Dr. Norman A. Godman, dated 4 March 1996:

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me as Chief Executive of the Training and Employment Agency to reply to your question about the PAFT initiative and ACE.

Policy Appraisal and Fair Treatment guidelines were applied to decisions regarding the future funding of the Action for Community Employment programme. The affect of the reduction in funding should not have a differential impact on the overall balance of the programme to PAFT target groups.

A report of the assessment which was made will be submitted for inclusion in the 1995 PAFT Annual Report due to be published later this year.

I hope that you find this reply useful.

Mr. Illsley

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much has been allocated to the Northern Ireland ACE training scheme to protect the jobs of core workers; for how long such protection will be extended; and which Department provided the funds. [18682]

Mr. Ancram

Responsibility for the subject in question 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. Eric Illsley, dated 4 March 1996:

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me as Chief Executive of the Training and Employment Agency to reply to your question about the Action for Community Employment programme.

In her announcement on 19 February 1996 Baroness Denton indicated that up to £2 million would be made available in 1996–97 to allow ACE schemes more time to manage the reduction of their activities. It is not possible at present to say exactly how much of this sum will be used to help schemes which are losing core workers to phase them out over the year. The Agency is continuing to consult the Northern Ireland Federation of ACE Schemes on the implementation of the assistance package.

Until actual expenditure patterns become clearer during 1996–97 it will not be possible to say with certainty which Department has provided the funds. The Agency will seek to provide at least some of the funding from savings in other Agency programmes.

I hope that you find this reply helpful.

Dr. Godman

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of the funding of the action for community employment scheme came from the European structural funds in the last 12 months; how much of this money is to be allocated to the company development programme; and if he will make a statement. [17677]

Mr. Ancram

Responsibility for the subject in question 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 Dr. Norman A. Godman, dated 4 March 1996:

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me as Chief Executive of the Training and Employment Agency to reply to your question about European Union funding for the Action for Community Employment Scheme.

During the past 12 months, no European Union funding was awarded to the ACE scheme and therefore nothing was reallocated to the Company Development Programme from this source.

I hope that you find this reply useful.