HC Deb 02 April 1998 vol 309 cc653-4W
Mrs. Ray Michie

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what schemes are available in(a) England and Wales and (b) Scotland, to help people to return to work, who are aged between (i) 50 and 55, (ii) 55 and 60, and (iii) 60 and 65 years; and how many people in each group he estimates have gained employment (1) directly and (2) indirectly through these schemes in each year between 1994 and 1997. [36306]

Mr. Andrew Smith

The schemes available throughout England and Wales and Scotland, to people aged 50 or more between 1994 and 1997 are as follows:

  • 1–2-1
  • Jobclub
  • Jobfinder
  • Jobfinder's Grant
  • Jobplan
  • Job Interview Guarantee
  • Job Review Workshop
  • Job Search Seminar
  • Job Search Plus
  • Restart Courses
  • Travel to Interview Scheme
  • Work Trials.

Statistics on outcomes from the above ES programmes are not collected by age and have not been estimated by the Department.

Statistics on Training for Work for England and Wales are shown in table 1. Similar statistics are available for Business Start-up and Learning for Work, for England and Wales, but for 1994 only. These are shown in table 2. Statistics for Scotland are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

Table Training for Work
Age 1994 1995 1996 1997
1. Number of Training for Work starts in England and Wales are as follows:
305,500 227,200 229,100 197,200
2. The proportion of Training for Work starts in England and Wales by age are as follows:
50–54 5.7% 6.1% 6.5% 7.0%
55–.59 3.0% 3.2% 3.5% 3.6%
60–64 0.3% 0.4% 0.4% 0.3%
3. The proportion of Training for Work leavers in England and Wales in employment1 by age are as follows:
50–54 37% 38% 41% 242%
55–59 33% 31% 36% 238%
60–64 36% 37% 41% 245%
1 In employment = in full-time, part-time or self-employment 6 months after leaving TfW. Because of the nature of the information collected, it is not possible to say whether employment was directly or indirectly as a result of the training received.
2 January—June

Sources:

1 TEC Management Information returns and the Welsh Office

2. TfW Trainee Database

3 TfW Follow-up survey

Table 2: Business Start-up and Learning for Work 1994
Age Business Start-up Learning for Work
1. Number of starts in England and Wales are as follows:
27,500 2,000
2. The proportion of starts in England and Wales by age are as follows:
50–54 9.2% 6.9%
55–59 5.7% 3.6%
60–64 1.6% 0.1%
3. The proportion of leavers in England and Wales in employment by age are as follows:
50–54 183% 220%
55–59 183% 222%
60–64 181% 220%
1The proportion of businesses still operational at the end of the period of support.
2In full-time, part-time or self-employment 6 months after leaving Learning for Work. Because of the nature of the information collected, it is not possible to say whether employment was directly or indirectly as a result of the training received.

Sources:

1.Business Start-up and Learning for Work participant databases

2.Business Start-up and Learning for Work participant databases

3.Business Start-up participant database and Learning for Work follow-up survey