Vol. 445 No. 8
26 Mr. M. McDowell asked the Minister for Education the reason a ceiling has recently been imposed on the numbers of places available on vocational training opportunities schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1056/94]
56 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Education if there is a ceiling on the number of places provided for the long-term unemployed returning to full-time education under the vocational training opportunities scheme; and, if so, if it has resulted in intending students being refused places on courses. [1153/94]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 26 and 56 together.
The number of places made available on the Vocational Training Opportunity Scheme in any year is decided having regard to the likely demand, the capability of vocational education committees to provide them and the financial resources available. The number of places being provided this year is 5,000. This represents an increase of over 2,000 on 1993 and, indeed, is almost twenty times the number provided in 1986 when the scheme was initiated.
The level of demand for places this autumn will be taken into account in considering the provision of places in 1995.
