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Northern Ireland Office;Northern Ireland Training and Employment Agency

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make a statement on the future of Ballymena Government Training Centre, Co. Antrim indicating the steps being taken to redeploy instructors, administrative staff and industrial staff employed at the Centre and the likely number of redundancies in each...

Asked by

Roy Beggs (Ulster Unionist Party)

Answering body

Northern Ireland Office

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

25 February 2000

For answer on

2 March 2000

Answered on

2 March 2000

Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the future of Ballymena Government Training Centre, Co. Antrim indicating the steps being taken to redeploy instructors, administrative staff and industrial staff employed at the Centre and the likely number of redundancies in each group of employees. [112406] Mr. Ingram: Responsibility for the subject in question 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. Roy Beggs, dated 1 March 2000: The Secretary of State has asked me, as Chief Executive of the Training and Employment Agency, to reply to your question about the future of Ballymena Training Centre, the steps being taken to re-deploy staff, and the likely number of redundancies. Following a review of training centres and Further Education colleges, the then Minister, Mr. McFall, confirmed in September 1999 that planning would proceed on the merger of the training centres and FE colleges. Plans are underway for Ballymena Training Centre to become fully integrated into the North East Institute of Further and Higher Education and the aim is for the merger to take effect in September 2000. To help facilitate the merger process, the Department, acting through the Agency, has introduced a voluntary redundancy scheme for training centre staff in the instructional and industrial grades. In Ballymena, 11 staff out of a total of 30 staff have applied for and been granted voluntary redundancy. There will be a further opportunity for staff in these grades to apply for the voluntary redundancy scheme in the next few months. Arrangements are being discussed for instructional and industrial staff who prefer to transfer to employment with North East Institute, to do so with appropriate protection of their employment rights. I expect that all administrative staff in the training centre will be re-deployed to other parts of the Department or, perhaps, the wider Northern Ireland Civil Service. There is no need for a voluntary redundancy scheme for this group of staff. I hope you find this information helpful.

Date

2 March 2000

Reference

345 c405W; 112406

House

House of Commons

Northern Ireland Office;Northern Ireland Training and Employment Agency

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what plans he has to address the problem of the long-term unemployed in Northern Ireland. - Inc figures and text of letter from Ian Walters of Training and Employment Agency.

Asked by

Eddie McGrady (Social Democratic & Labour Party)

Answering body

Northern Ireland Office

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

8 October 1999

For answer on

25 October 1999

Answered on

25 October 1999

Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to address the problem of the long-term unemployed in Northern Ireland. [94464] Mr. McFall: Responsibility for the subject in question 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. Eddie Grady, dated 21 October 1999: The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me as Chief Executive of the Training and Employment Agency to reply to your question about help for the long term unemployed in Northern Ireland. The number of long term unemployed people (i.e., those who have been unemployed for one year or more) who are claiming Jobseekers Allowance in Northern Ireland has declined substantially in recent years. In September 1999 there were 24000 long term unemployed claimants which is 3000 less than 1 year earlier and 13000 lower than 3 years ago. It is against this background that New Deal, which is by far the largest programme for helping the long term unemployed back into work in Northern Ireland, is being delivered. Up to £200 million is available for New Deal in Northern Ireland over the lifetime of this Parliament. The New Deal for 18 to 24 year olds and the New Deal for the over 25s are specifically designed to assist the long term unemployed. The New Deal for 18 to 24 year olds, introduced in April 1998, offers young people who have been unemployed for 6 months or more a tailored programme to improve their employability and enhance their chances of getting a job. Northern Ireland is one of 29 areas throughout the United Kingdom currently piloting enhanced provision for those aged 25 and over who have been unemployed for 18 months or more. This pilot New Deal was introduced throughout Northern Ireland in November 1998. Between April 1998 and September 1999, 4874 young people found work through New Deal for 18-24 year olds. In addition, 1980 adults have found work following their participation in New Deal for the over 25s. Many others are improving their prospects for employment by participating in the other available options. The Work rack programme was introduced at the beginning of August 1999 to complement New Deal. Worktrack is the replacement programme for ACE and is targeted at long term unemployed adults who are ineligible for New Deal assistance. It will provide 1050 high quality temporary employment opportunities with training during the financial year 1999/00 and 2100 opportunities in 2000/01. Worktrack aims to prepare participants for sustainable employment at the earliest opportunity. New Deal has had a very positive impact in helping to tackle the problem of long term unemployment in Northern Ireland. However, we are not complacent and the Training and Employment Agency will continue to play its part by considering what other measures and interventions would help long term unemployed people back into employment. I hope you find this reply helpful.

Date

25 October 1999

Reference

94464; 336 c659-60W

House

House of Commons

Northern Ireland Office;Northern Ireland Training and Employment Agency

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what arrangements are in place to ensure that employers receiving subsidies under the New Deal are complying completely with the minimum wage legislation for all their employees, including those subsidised under the New Deal. - Inc text of letter from Ian...

Asked by

A Cecil Walker (Ulster Unionist Party)

Answering body

Northern Ireland Office

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

19 May 1999

For answer on

26 May 1999

Answered on

26 May 1999

Mr. Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what arrangements are in place to ensure that employers receiving subsidies under the New Deal are complying completely with the minimum wage legislation for all their employees, including those subsidised under the New Deal. [85120] Mr. McFall: Responsibility for the subject in question 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. Cecil Walker, dated 25 May 1999: The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me as Chief Executive of the Training & Employment Agency to reply to your question about the National Minimum Wage and, specifically, its implications for employees in jobs which attract a New Deal subsidy. The role of implementing National Minimum Wage policy lies with the Department of Trade & Industry and the monitoring and enforcing functions have been assigned to the Inland Revenue. The Training & Employment Agency has no direct responsibility in these matters but the Agency's JobCentre staff are offering guidance based on DTI explanatory leaflets for both employers and employees. They are also signposting enquiries to the National Minimum Wage telephone information and enquiries lines. (Copies of the DTI leaflets are enclosed.) The Agency now requires all employers reporting vacancies, for which job applicants are sought, to confirm that at least National Minimum Wage rates will apply. On the specific issue of New Deal employees' National Minimum Wage entitlements, Personal Advisers maintain a counselling and monitoring role during the subsidy period with employees and employers to ensure that all New Deal criteria and job recruitment agreements are being honoured. I hope you find this reply useful.

Date

26 May 1999

Reference

85120; 332 c178W

House

House of Commons

Northern Ireland Office;Northern Ireland Training and Employment Agency

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if she will provide a breakdown the religious composition of (a) the training staff employed at each level and (b) the trainees at each Government training centre in Northern Ireland at the latest date for which figures are available. - Includes...

Asked by

Roy Beggs (Ulster Unionist Party)

Answering body

Northern Ireland Office

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

21 April 1999

For answer on

29 April 1999

Answered on

29 April 1999

Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will provide a breakdown of the religious composition of (a) the training staff employed at each level and (b) the trainees at each Government training centre in Northern Ireland at the latest date for which figures are available. [82193] Mr. Ingram: Responsibility for the subject in question 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. Roy Beggs, dated 28 April 1999: The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me, as Chief Executive of the Training and Employment Agency, to reply to your question about the religious composition of staff and trainees at the Agency's Training Centres. I have consulted colleagues in the Department of Finance and Personnel which, on behalf of the Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS) and as required by the Fair Employment (Monitoring) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999, maintains monitoring information on the composition of the NICS. In carrying out this function in the Department is required to protect the confidentiality of monitoring information held on individual members of staff and of groups where the community background of individuals could be deduced. In addition, the Department seeks to ensure that the use it makes of such monitoring information is compatible with the actions or measures it might lawfully take to address any lack of fair participation revealed by monitoring. In practice this means that the NICS does not maintain monitoring information by grade for the staff employed in Training Centres, who constitute a single occupational group. The breakdown of the community background of these staff at 1 January 1999, the latest date for which information is available, is: _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Number Percentage Protestant 123 52.3 Roman Catholic 85 36.2 Not determined 27 11.5 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. The Training and Employment Agency also monitors participation in its programmes and services in line with its commitment to equality of opportunity and fair treatment. The Agency's 10 Training Centres are responsible for managing approximately 2,700 places on the Agency's Jobskills programme out of a total number of 14,700 Jobskills trainees. There are approximately 120 other training providers delivering the Jobskills programme. The community background of trainees in Training Centres, derived from monitoring, is as follows: _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Number Percentage Protestant 775 38 Roman Catholic 1,231 60 Not determined 37 2 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. I hope you find this information useful.

Date

29 April 1999

Reference

330 c228-9W;330 c223W; 82193

House

House of Commons

Northern Ireland Office;Northern Ireland Training and Employment Agency

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many staff are presently employed at Dundonald Training Centre; how many trainees are involved there; and what proposals she has to increase training opportunities in the boroughs of Ards, Castlereagh and North Down. - Includes figures and text of letter...

Asked by

Lord Kilclooney (Ulster Unionist Party)

Answering body

Northern Ireland Office

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

16 March 1999

For answer on

24 March 1999

Answered on

24 March 1999

Mr. John D. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many staff are presently employed at Dundonald Training Centre; how many trainees are involved there; and what proposals she has to increase training opportunities in the boroughs of Ards, Castlereagh and North Down. [77796] Mr. Ingram: Responsibility for the subject in question 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. John D. Taylor, dated 23 March 1999: The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me, as Chief Executive of the Training and Employment Agency, to reply to your question about Dundonald Training Centre and training opportunities in the Boroughs of Ards, Castlereagh, and North Down. Pending a decision on its future, Dundonald Training Centre is not currently operational. Five staff remain in the Centre to maintain the premises and provide support services to other parts of the training centre network. A further 30 T&EA staff are located on the Dundonald site engaged in duties which are not directly linked to the work of training centres. There are no trainees in the Centre at present. A document on the future structure of relationships between training centres and Further Education Colleges, which was published for consultation purposes in September 1998, recommended a working partnership between colleges and training centres which would better utilise their respective strengths. The views and advice offered during the consultation process are being assessed and an announcement on the way forward is expected shortly. The future of Dundonald Training Centre will depend upon the outcome of the Review. The extent to which vocational training arrangements in Ards, Castlereagh, and North Down might be further improved will be similarly addressed through the implementation of the Review's recommendations. As you know, high quality training is available now under the New Deal and Jobskills programmes and will be offered shortly in Worktrack which will succeed ACE. Complementing these programmes is the recently announced strategy for Lifelong Learning, a £63 million initiative to encourage a culture of continuous learning. This major new initiative will help individuals of all ages to acquire the skills they need to meet the demands of a rapidly changing economy. I hope you find this information useful.

Date

24 March 1999

Reference

328 c287W; 77796

House

House of Commons

Northern Ireland Office;Northern Ireland Training and Employment Agency

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many people have registered for the New Deal at each social security office in South Down since its introduction; and of these how many were unemployed and in receipt of jobseeker's allowance or income support; how many people who registered...

Asked by

Eddie McGrady (Social Democratic & Labour Party)

Answering body

Northern Ireland Office

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

12 March 1999

Reference

327 c385-6W; 75227;75228

House

House of Commons

Northern Ireland Office;Northern Ireland Training and Employment Agency

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many trainees are (a) on the new Work Track Programme and (b) what was the average number of trainees in each month on the Action for Community Employment scheme in the last 12 months for which figures are available; what...

Asked by

Martin Smyth (Ulster Unionist Party)

Answering body

Northern Ireland Office

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

1 March 1999

Reference

326 c584-5W; 72542;72543;72544

House

House of Commons

Northern Ireland Office;Northern Ireland Training and Employment Agency

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many New Deal places have been offered in Northern Ireland, broken down by industry; and how many have been taken up in each month to date. - Inc figs, table and text of letter from Ian Walters of the Northern...

Asked by

Malcolm Moss (Conservative)

Answering body

Northern Ireland Office

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

10 February 1999

For answer on

25 February 1999

Answered on

25 February 1999

Mr. Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many New Deal places have been offered in Northern Ireland, broken down by industry; and how many have been taken up in each month to date. [71412] Mr. Ingram: Responsibility for the subject in question 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 23 February 1999: The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me as Chief Executive of the Training & Employment Agency to reply to your question on New Deal. The latest information available on the numbers of Employment Option vacancies offered by employers and placements, broken down by industry, are shown in the attached table. Out of the total of 1,749 vacancies 784 have been filled and decisions are awaited from employers on 1,800 submissions. (A submission is the referral of one New Deal participant for one vacancy. New Deal participants are often submitted for more than one vacancy). In addition, 1,668 New Deal participants had moved into unsubsidised jobs. Information on the uptake of Employment Option vacancies by sector each month is not currently available. A new computer system is being installed which will make this information more readily available. Employment option vacancies and placements by sector _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Vacancies Placements Agriculture and Horticulture 91 62 Forestry 1 1 Fishing 2 -- Mineral Oil Processing 1 -- Production and Distribution of 15 13 Electricity/Gas/Other Forms of Energy Water Supply Industry 2 -- Metal Manufacturing 10 5 Extraction of Minerals NES 3 1 Manufacture of Nonmetallic Mineral Product 31 12 Chemical Industry 9 5 Production of Man-made Fibres 4 1 Manufacture of Metal Goods NES 18 4 Mechanical Engineering 47 18 Manufacture of Office Machinery and DP 15 6 Equipment Electrical and Electronic Engineering 54 25 Manufacture of Motor Vehicles and Parts 26 16 Thereof Manufacture of Other Transport Equipment 4 1 Instrument Engineering 4 2 Food/Drink/Tobacco/Manufacturing Industries 50 20 Food/Drink/Tobacco/Manufacturing Industries 11 6 Textile Industry 40 11 Manufacture of Leather and Leather Goods 1 -- Footwear and Clothing Industries 24 10 Timber and Wooden Furniture Industries 36 18 Manufacture Paper and Paper Products, 39 19 Printing/Publishing Processing of Rubber and Plastics 9 4 Other Manufacturing Industries 13 5 Construction 190 102 Wholesale Distribution x Dealing in 41 23 Scrap/Waste Dealing in Scrap and Waste Materials 6 2 Commission Agents 2 -- Retail Distribution 247 109 Hotels and Catering 137 49 Repair of Consumer Goods and Vehicles 20 8 Other lnIand Transport 23 11 Supporting Services to Transport 4 2 Miscellaneous Transport Services and Storage 2 2 NES Postal Service and Telecommunications 4 1 Banking and Finance 11 2 Insurance x Compulsory Social Security 7 3 Business Services 106 41 Renting of Movables 11 3 Owning and Dealing in Real Estate 4 1 Public Administration/National 30 9 Defence/Compulsory Social Security Sanitary Services 24 12 Education 43 29 Research and Development 3 -- Medical and Other Health Services: 41 12 Veterinary Services Other Services to the General Public 67 33 Recreational Services and Other Cultural 67 23 Services Personal Services 84 42 Domestic Services 15 -- Total 1,749 784 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Note: These figures are based on the latest information available and are subject to audit.

Date

25 February 1999

Reference

71412; 326 c366-7W

House

House of Commons

Northern Ireland Office;Northern Ireland Training and Employment Agency

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many Action for Community Employment worker posts are attached to pre-school playgroups in Northern Ireland; and if she will make a statement on future funding for ACE workers employed by pre-school playgroups. - Inc figs and text of letter from...

Asked by

Roy Beggs (Ulster Unionist Party)

Answering body

Northern Ireland Office

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

11 February 1999

For answer on

25 February 1999

Answered on

25 February 1999

Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Action for Community Employment worker posts are attached to pre-school playgroups in Northern Ireland; and if she will make a statement on future funding for ACE workers employed by pre-school playgroups. [71489] Mr. Ingram: Responsibility for the subject in question 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. Roy Beggs, dated 23 February 1999: The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me as Chief Executive of the Training and Employment Agency to reply to your question about pre-school playgroups supported through the Action for Community Employment (ACE) programme. At 31 December 1998, the latest date for which figures are available, 118 ACE schemes were delivering programmes for children aged under 5, the majority of which were playgroups. The number of ACE participants directly involved with these schemes was 444. The Minister, Mr. McFall, has set up a dedicated team of officials drawn from the Training and Employment Agency, the Department of Health and Social Services and the Department of Education. The team is undertaking a survey of the contribution which existing schemes currently make to their local communities. The team is also providing advice and assistance to ACE schemes which decide to make the transition to New Deal and the replacement for ACE, Worktrain. ACE schemes are being encouraged to become involved in the delivery of these new programmes so that their expertise is not lost and they can continue to serve the community. Approximately one third of ACE schemes are already members of the consortia which are delivering New Deal. I hope that you find this information useful.

Date

25 February 1999

Reference

71489; 326 c359-61W

House

House of Commons

Northern Ireland Office;Northern Ireland Training and Employment Agency

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, 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; how many jobs have been lost under the ACE programme in each of...

Asked by

Malcolm Moss (Conservative)

Answering body

Northern Ireland Office

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

16 February 1999

Reference

325 c621-4W;325 c623-5W; 70074;70072;70071;70075;70073

House

House of Commons

Northern Ireland Office;Northern Ireland Training and Employment Agency

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many people are participating in the New Deal in Northern Ireland. - Includes text of letter from Ian Walters of Training and Employment Agency.

Asked by

Malcolm Moss (Conservative)

Answering body

Northern Ireland Office

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

24 July 1998

Reference

316 c702W; 51022

House

House of Commons

Deposited Paper HINF 98/1497

Deposited by

Northern Ireland Office; Northern Ireland Training and Employment Agency

Type

Deposited papers

Date

2 July 1998

Reference

HINF 98/1497

Northern Ireland Office;Northern Ireland Training and Employment Agency

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what is the maximum weekly fee per participant payable to a lead partner acting as a provider in the New Deal Environmental Task Force Option; and for what reason it differs from the maximum payable in England and Wales. - Inc...

Asked by

Robert McCartney (United Kingdom Unionist)

Answering body

Northern Ireland Office

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

20 February 1998

For answer on

26 February 1998

Answered on

26 February 1998

Mr. Robert McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the maximum weekly fee per participant payable to a lead partner acting as a provider in the New Deal Environmental Task Force Option; and for what reason it differs from the maximum payable in England and Wales. [31314] Mr. Worthington: Responsibility for the subject in question 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. Robert McCartney, dated 26 February 1998: The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me as Chief Executive of the Training and Employment Agency to reply to your question about New Deal funding for the Environment Task Force option. The maximum funding per participant on the Environmental Task Force within New Deal in Northern Ireland is £1,300 which equates to a maximum weekly fee of £50 for a 26 week placement. In addition, £750 per participant is paid as a training fee. When determining the level of management fee applicable in Northern Ireland the Training and Employment Agency took into account its current experience of funding similar activity under Action for Community Employment (ACE) and the pilot Community Work Programme (CWP) and the existence of an infrastructure of voluntary/environmental groups already delivering Government funded programmes. The level of fee represents a significant enhancements on those paid within ACE and CWP. For comparison purposes the maximum funding in respect of 10 participants over a 26 week period is £8,320 (CWP), £10,218 (ACE) and £20,500 (New Deal Environmental Task Force). I am satisfied therefore that the New Deal will make available additional resources to providers of the Environmental Task Force option to enable them to deliver good quality opportunities for our young people while ensuring that the Agency lives within its overall New Deal funding allocation and seeks best value for money for the taxpayer. I hope you find this reply helpful.

Date

26 February 1998

Reference

31314; 307 c335-6W

House

House of Commons

Northern Ireland Office;Northern Ireland Training and Employment Agency

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when she will publish the results of the Government's review of long-term unemployment in Northern Ireland. - Text of letter from Ian Walters of the Training and Employment Agency.

Asked by

Harry Barnes (Labour)

Answering body

Northern Ireland Office

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

10 February 1998

Reference

28624; 306 c117W

House

House of Commons

Northern Ireland Office;Northern Ireland Training and Employment Agency

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how she intends to deploy New Deal Welfare to Work resources relating to Northern Ireland; and when she proposed to announce the results of the Government's consultation on long-term unemployment; and if she will comment on the New Deal Welfare to...

Asked by

Norman A Godman (Labour)

Answering body

Northern Ireland Office

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

26 January 1998

Reference

305 c21-2W; 22735;22744;22743

House

House of Commons

Northern Ireland Office;Northern Ireland Training and Employment Agency

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many of the students selected for the Training and Employment Agency sponsored programme in the United States of America are from Northern Ireland, broken down by religious denomination. - Inc text of letter from Ian Walters, Chief Executive of the...

Asked by

Lord Kilclooney (Ulster Unionist Party)

Answering body

Northern Ireland Office

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

24 October 1997

For answer on

28 October 1997

Answered on

28 October 1997

Mr. John D. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many of the students selected for the Training and Employment Agency sponsored programme in the United States of America are from Northern Ireland, broken down by religious denomination. [12771] Mr. Worthington: Responsibility for the subject in question 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. John D. Taylor, dated 22 October 1997: The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me, as Chief Executive of the Training & Employment Agency (T&EA), to reply to your question about the number of students from Northern Ireland, by religious denomination, who are on T&EA sponsored programmes in the United States of America (USA). The T&EA operates 4 USA programmes through its Business Support Division and 1 through its Training Division. The breakdown of these programmes, which are aimed at enhancing the skills and competences of young people, is as follows: _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Number Business support division programmes Catholics 80 Protestants 51 Not stated 20 Total 151 Training division programmes Catholics 10 Protestants 14 Total 24 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. I hope you find this information helpful.

Date

28 October 1997

Reference

299 c802W; 12771

House

House of Commons

Northern Ireland Office;Northern Ireland Training and Employment Agency

If she will comment concerning the composition of the Northern Ireland Task Force to oversee the welfare to work scheme. - Text of letter from Chris Thompson, Chief Executive of the Training and Employment Agency.

Asked by

Norman A Godman (Labour)

Answering body

Northern Ireland Office

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

23 July 1997

Reference

9014; 298 c632W;298 c630W

House

House of Commons

Northern Ireland Office;Northern Ireland Training and Employment Agency

What action she proposes to ensure that government funding for tourism and hospitality training in Northern Ireland matches that provided in Great Britain. - Text of letter from Ian Walters of the Training and Employment Agency.

Asked by

Roy Beggs (Ulster Unionist Party)

Answering body

Northern Ireland Office

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

For answer on

7 July 1997

Answered on

7 July 1997

Mr. Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action she proposes to ensure that Government funding for tourism and hospitality training in Northern Ireland matches that provided in Great Britain. [6137] Mr. Worthington: Responsibility for the subject in question 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. Roy Beggs, dated 4 July 1997: The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me, as Chief Executive of the Training and Employment Agency, to reply to your question about Government funding for tourism and hospitality training in Northern Ireland. I regret I am unable to provide information which could be used to make a meaningful comparison between funding for tourism and hospitality training in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Because of the very different arrangements which apply in the regions, the information could only be made available at a wholly disproportionate cost. I can assure you however that the Training and Employment Agency is fully committed to supporting training within the tourism and hospitality industry which is treated as a top priority. Evidence of the Agency's commitment lies in the £7.2m which was spent during 1996/97 on a wide range of training programmes. This support included European Social Fund assistance amount to £2.4m administered by the Agency. Support was also made available through the Agency's Jobskills programme (£4m), the Company Development Programme (£0.5m), the Priority Skills Initiative (£0.24m) and the Sectoral Development Programme (£0.07m). In addition, over £3 m is being made available over two years from the European Union's Special Programme for Peace and Reconciliation. I feel sure you will agree that the total level of assistance represents a very generous measure of support by any standard.

Date

7 July 1997

Reference

6137; 297 c354W

House

House of Commons

Northern Ireland Office;Northern Ireland Training and Employment Agency

Which courses are being retained at Dundonald Training Centre; which courses will cease to exist this year; if the training centre will be required to limit the number of trainees it accepts. - Text of letter from Ian Walters, Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Training and Employment Agency.

Asked by

Lord Kilclooney (Ulster Unionist Party)

Answering body

Northern Ireland Office

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

For answer on

2 July 1997

Answered on

2 July 1997

Mr. John D. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which courses are being retained at Dundonald Training Centre; which courses will cease to exist this year; if the training centre will be required to limit the number of trainees it accepts; and if she will make a statement. [5488] Mr. Worthington: Responsibility for the subject in question 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. John D. Taylor, dated 27 June 1997: The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me, as Chief Executive of the Training and Employment Agency, to reply to your question about the courses being retained, or not retained, at Dundonald Training Centre and the overall limitation on numbers at the Centre. In the training year commencing September 1997, Dundonald Training Centre will offer apprenticeship training in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Fabrication, Light Vehicle Repair, Light Vehicle Body Repair, and Contractors Plant Maintenance. Apprenticeship courses for construction industry trades will not be available to new entrants but the Centre will ensure that trainees in this sector who have completed their training at Dundonald continue to be monitored during their subsequent period of employer based training. The Business Administration class previously offered at the Centre will also cease. Short term courses to meet the needs of employers and, in particular, courses in natural gas fitting will continue to be offered wherever possible. All the Agency's Training Centres limit the number of trainees they accept in line with the resources available. Dundonald Training Centre will be limited to 75 new entrants in its Jobskills programme in 1997/98. There is no limit to the number of trainees who may be admitted to courses which are directly funded by employers.

Date

2 July 1997

Reference

297 c200-1W; 5488

House

House of Commons

Northern Ireland Office;Northern Ireland Training and Employment Agency

To comment on the costs of implementing her Department's proposals to deal with long term unemployment assuming a scheme to cover 40,000 persons; and to list the measures available for unemployed people to seek training and retraining. - Includes text of letters from Ian Walters of Training and Employment Agency.

Asked by

Martin Smyth (Ulster Unionist Party)

Answering body

Northern Ireland Office

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

30 June 1997

Reference

297 c41-4W; 5141;5139

House

House of Commons

Librarians' tools

Type

House

Session

Year

Department

Member

Primary member

Answering member

Legislative stage

Legislation

Subject

Publisher