asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many persons in the following categories in the Northern Region have applied and been granted early retirement under his Department's job release scheme: (a) males and (b) females;(2) how many persons in the following categories, (
a) male and ( b) female, have been placed in employment in the Northern Region as a direct result of the job release scheme;
(3) how many applications for early retirement under the job release scheme have been granted in the following categories of industry in the Northern Region: ( a) manufacturing and ( b) non-manufacturing;
(4) if he will list the number of applications granted under the job release scheme to date for all the assisted areas, region by region;
(5) if he will list the up-to-date costs of the job release scheme in assisted areas region by region.
On 15th March 1977 applications for a job release allowance made by 902 males and by 217 females in the Northern Region had been approved. As a direct result of the operation of the scheme in the Northern Region 322 vacancies have been created that otherwise would not have occurred. Separate figures for the number of males and females who have found work as a result of the operation of the scheme are not available. Approximately equal numbers of people have given up work early in manufacturing and non-manufacturing industry, by taking advantage of the scheme.The number of applications approved and the expenditure committed in each region is as follows:
| Applications approved | Expenditure committed for a full year | |
| £ | ||
| South-West | 504 | 603,000 |
| West Midlands | 24 | 29,000 |
| East Midlands | 165 | 197,000 |
| Yorkshire and Humberside | 1,833 | 2,192,000 |
| North-West | 3,212 | 3,842,000 |
| Northern | 1,119 | 1,338,000 |
| Wales | 839 | 1,003,000 |
| Scotland | 1,391 | 1,664,000 |