asked the Minister for Labour the total number of places available for the (a) under 25 years olds (b) over 25 year olds in 1987 on the following manpower programmes (i) Teamwork (ii) social employment scheme (iii) employment incentive scheme (iv) work experience scheme (v) enterprise scheme; the number of current participants on each programme and the likely year end figure; the estimated number of places available in 1988 on each of these programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Manpower Programmes.
127.
The Teamwork scheme provides for participation by young persons under 25 years of age. A budget of £5.4 million was allocated for 1987 and this provides for an average weekly participation of 1,674 participants on the scheme. The total number on Teamwork at the end of September 1987 was 1,293. It is not anticipated that this figure will change appreciably by the end of 1987. The takeup of the scheme in 1987 was not as great as anticipated.
A budget of £4.6 million has been allocated for 1988. This will provide for an average weekly participation of 1,600 participants on the scheme when account is taken of the reduction in the grant towards wage costs from £70 to £60 in April 1987.
All participants in the social employment scheme (SES) are over 25 years of age. A budget of £43.5 million was provided for the scheme in 1987. This would generate 8,900 man years of employment (an average of 8,900 participants each week) in 1987. There were 8,500 participants on the scheme at the start of 1987 and at present there are 11,000 participants. It is not expected that this figure will change appreciably between now and year-end. A budget of £43.41 million has been provided for the scheme in 1988. It is estimated that this will generate approximately 9,550 man years of employment (an average of 9,550 participants per week) during 1988.
In 1987, the employment incentive scheme (EIS) will cater for approximately 7,000 notified recruitments of whom 69 per cent are under 25 years of age. The figure of 7,000 for recruitment is equivalent to an average weekly participation of 3,500. The allocation for 1988 will provide for the same number of recruitments.
The work experience programme (WEP) is aimed solely at the under 25 years age group. Prior to the suspension of the programme, with effect from 30 September 1987, the recruitment target for 1987 (full year) was 6,400. The figure of 6,400 for recruitment is equivalent to an average weekly participation of 3,200. The number of new entrants to WEP in 1987 was 5,058 and the number on WEP at 31 October 1987 was 2,602. The likely year-end figure is approximately 1,500. It is not intended, at this point, that there should be recruitment to WEP in 1988. However, the programmes which finish in 1988 are expected to generate up to 185 man years in 1988 (the equivalent of 370 participants).
The total number of places available for recruitments to the enterprise scheme in 1987 is 3,500. It was estimated that 2,845 of those recruited would be over 25 years of age and 655 would be under 25 years of age. The actual number of recruitments to date in 1987 is 2,264 of which 1,844 are over 25 years of age and 420 are under 25 years of age. It is expected that the total number of recruitments in 1987 will be approximately 2,360 of which 1,920 will be over 25 years of age and 440 will be under 25 years. Take up on the scheme in 1987 has not been as high as was anticipated.
The number of recruitments feasible in 1988 in the context of a £7 million allocation is approximately 3,700 of which 3,000 will be over 25 years of age and 700 will be under 25 years of age.
In addition to financial considerations, recruitment to employment schemes are influenced by a number of other factors. These include the willingness of sponsors to mount Teamwork and SES projects, recruitment practices of employers in the case of EIS and the willingness of the unemployed to start business under Enterprise. It should be appreciated that the number of admissions-recruitments in any year is not a true reflection of the actual participation in that year due to the carry over of persons recruited in the previous year.