Written question asked by Nicholas Brown (Labour) on Monday, 18 July 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 20 July 2005. It was answered by Stephen Timms (Labour) on Monday, 12 September 2005 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Shipyard Workers

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what measures have been put in place on Tyneside by his Department to help unemployed former shipyard workers (a) retrain for and (b) find another job.

Answer: Our flexible employment programmes, such as the new deal, delivered through Jobcentre Plus and work based learning for adults, provide a service that meets the needs of individuals, local areas and local employers and have been a tremendous success in helping to achieve record levels of employment.In addition to mainstream programmes, Jobcentre Plus has approved rapid response funding in excess of £370,000 to assist customers, made redundant in the shipbuilding industry on Tyneside, through re-training programmes. Such re-training is still continuing and training programmes accessed cover a range of subjects, the most common being offshore survival, safety training passports, rope access courses and upgrading of welding certificates.Partner organisations who worked alongside Jobcentre Plus to assist those made redundant consisted of; One North East, Government office for the north east, North Tyneside council, South Tyneside council, Business Link, Learning Skills Council and Work Force Development.

Secondary information