§ Mr. Laurence RobertsonTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has for the future of Training for Work. [82162]
§ Mr. Andrew Smith[holding answer 26 April 1999]: I have been asked to reply.
Training for Work is now known in England as Work Based Learning for Adults (WBLA). The key objective of the programme is to help long-term unemployed people to move into sustained employment by boosting their skills.
A recently published evaluation study shows that clients who participated in the programme spent an average of around 50 per cent. more time in work over the first 18 months after training than others with similar characteristics who did not.
In the light of this, we have allocated a budget of £328 million this year for WBLA in England. This is sufficient to provide opportunities for over 100,000 adults over 25. We have also extended the help available for disabled people and those with basic skills needs.
My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Wales have separate responsibilities for adult training and programmes. These are operated along broadly similar lines to those in England.