Parliamentary Search

Written question asked by Eric Illsley (Labour), in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 22 April 1996. It was answered by Marquess of Lothian (Conservative) on Monday, 22 April 1996 on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office.

Northern Ireland Office;Northern Ireland Training and Employment Agency

Question
For what reasons there is a planned decrease in spending on community projects within the Department of Economic Development in (a) 1996-97 and (b) 1997-98. - Text of letter from Ian Walters of Northern Ireland Training and Employment Agency Inc figs.
Answer

Mr. Illsley: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for what reasons there is a planned decrease in spending on community projects within the Department of Economic Development in (a) 1996-97 and (b) 1997-98.[26203] Mr. Ancram: 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 given. Letter from Ian Walters to Mr. Eric Illsley, dated 22 April 1996: 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 funding of community projects. The decision to reduce the budget allocated to the Action for Community Employment (ACE) programme was taken against the background of the very encouraging performance of the Northern Ireland economy. With unemployment now at its lowest level for 14 years, employment opportunities increasing and with record numbers of job vacancies being notified by employers to Training and Employment Agency offices, the need to maintain community based temporary work programmes at former levels has diminished. Public Expenditure priorities have moved towards measures which will further encourage and sustain these very positive economic trends. This Agency recognises a continuing need to assist job seekers and, in addition to its many other services and programmes, still expects to spend £46 million this financial year to provide over 8000 places for the long term unemployed on community based projects funded under ACE and the pilot Community Work Programme. In addition, £2 million is available under the package of support for ACE schemes announced by Baroness Denton on 19 February 1996. I hope that you find this reply helpful.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
26203; 276 c42-3W;276 c44W
Session
1995-96
Subjects
Central government Grants Employment schemes Northern Ireland Public expenditure Voluntary work Action for community employment Community work programme
Contains statistics
Yes