asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are currently undergoing retraining under the auspices of his Department on Merseyside; and how these figures compare with the corresponding date in 1974.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that 2,345 people were undergoing training under the training opportunities scheme in Merseyside on 31st January 1976. 819 of these were in skillcentres, 1,339 in colleges of further education and 187 in employers' establishments. Comparable figures for 31st January 1974 are available for skillcentres only and total 719.