asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many applicants from Girvan are on waiting lists for entry to courses at Irvine skillcentre.
I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that five applicants from Girvan are on waiting lists for entry to courses at Irvine skill-centre.
asked the Secretary of State for Employment what courses are available in the Irvine skillcentre; how many of these courses have vacancies or waiting lists; what is the waiting time for entry to each course; and how many applicants from the Cumnock area are waiting entry to courses.
I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the information is as follows:
| Courses available at Irvine Skillcentre | Number of vacant places at 9th December | Estimated waiting time for entry |
| Bricklaying | — | 7–8 months |
| Carpentry and joinery | — | 11–12 months |
| Capstan setting-operating | 5 | — |
| Centre lathe turning | — | 7–8 months |
| Milling setting-operating | 5 | — |
| Precision grinding | 1 | — |
| Detail fitting and machining | — | 2 months |
| Instrument maintenance | — | 18 months |
| Radio, television and electronics servicing | — | 12–13 months |
| Agricultural machinery repair and maintenance | — | 12–13 months |
| Storekeeping | — | 15–16 months |
asked the Secretary of State for Employment how cuts in public expenditure have affected the expansion of courses and places in skillcentres; and what plans are being made to create new skillcentres or expand present ones in the years 1977 and 1978.
I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the cuts in public expenditure have had no effect on the expansion of courses and places in skillcentres; the skillcentre expansion programme is proceeding as planned. 60 skillcentres and 29 annexes are currently in operation and a further 12 centres and six annexes are included in the programme, which is due to be completed by 1979. Seven centres and four annexes are due to open by the end of 1977, and one centre and one annexe during 1978. In addition, provision has been made for 200 extra places to be made available in existing skillcentres during the 1977–78 financial year.
asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many unemployed men and disabled men, respectively, in the Newcastle, Central travel-to-work area have been retrained in Government training centres and reemployed in the last two years;(2) how many persons from the employment exchange at Newcastle, Central parliamentary constituency have received training at Government training centres since January 1973.
I am advised by the Manpower Services Commission that the information is not available, and could only be produced at disproportionate cost. I am sorry, therefore, that it is not possible to give this information.
asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current waiting list for entry into Government training centres in the Newcastle, Central area; and how many have been unable to be accepted for training or retraining.
I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that on 29th October the waiting list for entry into skillcentres—formerly Government training centres—in the Newcastle upon Tyne, Central area was as follows:
| Killingworth skillcentre | 359 |
| Felling-on-Tyne skillcentre (including annexe) | 462 |