§ Mr. MossTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many (i) men and (ii) women aged(a) 18 to 24 and (b) over 25 years old were employed under the ACE programme each month during 1998; [70074]
(2) how many jobs have been lost under the ACE programme in each of the past 12 months; [70072]
(3) how many people moved from the ACE programme into permanent jobs in each of the past five years; [70071]
(4) how many (i) men and (ii) women aged (a) 18 to 24 and (b) over 25 years old were employed under the ACE programme in each of the last five years; [70075]
624W(5) when the ACE programme is to be terminated. [70073]
§ Mr. IngramResponsibility for these issues 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. Malcolm Moss, dated 15 February 1999:
Parliamentary Questions 70071–70075
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.
625WParliamentary Question 70071
Details of the number of people moving from ACE into permanent employment are derived from a biannual survey of those who have left the programme. The flow into employment is therefore based on those who respond to the survey. The figures for the last five years for which data is available are:
Year Into employment (percentage) 1993 35 1994 38 1995 38 1996 37 1997 44 Parliamentary Question 70072
During 1998 there was a net reduction in the number of jobs provided by ACE but in some months there was in increase. In December 1997, 4,334 jobs were provided and the movements over the following 12 months:
Month Increase/Reduction January -33 February +18 March -36 April -11 May -.09 June -.19 July -.63 August -81 September +12
Average occupancy 18–24 years old Over 24 years old Totals Year Female Male Female Male Female Male Grand Total 1994–95 1,123 1,188 3,406 3,575 4,538 4,762 9,301 1995–96 1,154 1,136 3,477 3,422 4,631 4,559 9,189 1996–97 920 820 2,769 2,466 3,689 3,286 6,975 1997–98 701 559 2,111 1,678 2,812 2,237 5,049 1998–991 194 189 2,206 1,311 2,400 1,500 3,900 1 Estimated outturn figures I hope you find this reply useful.