asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many (a) men, (b) women and (c) juveniles are currently waiting for training and retraining places in (i) Kirkby and Ormskirk.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the information is not available other than at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will detail the training and retraining facilities already available in (a) Kirkby and (b) Ormskirk for (i) men and (ii) women; and what steps are being taken to improve these facilities in each town.

The Manpower Services Commission informs me that the facilities available under the training opportunities scheme in Kirkby and Ormskirk are as follows:

Kirkby
(a) Annexe to St. Helens skillcentre
Course			Number of places
Carpentry and joinery	…	…	14
Welding	…	…	48
Heavy vehicle repair	…	…	24
Motor vehicle repair	…	…	24

(b) Colleges of Further Education
Course		Number of places
Typewriting and office practice	…	10
Engineering induction	…	12
Preparatory courses	…	15
Shorthand and typing	…	18
Shorthand and typing (refresher)	…	18
Medical receptionist	…	20
Clerk audio typing	…	18

Ormskirk.—No regular training facilities are available but occasional use is made of employers establishments for individual trainees. These courses are open to both males and females. At present the Training Services Agency has no plans to increase the training facilities in either town, but people living in Kirkby and Ormskirk can make use of the skill-centres in Liverpool and St. Helens, both of which are within daily travelling distance. In addition the new skillcentre at Preston due to open in June 1977 will provide further training opportunities.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will detail the training facilities already available in (a) Kirkby and (b) Ormskirk for young people; and what steps are being taken to improve the training facilities in each town.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the Training Services Agency aims to offer training for unemployed young people under the age of 19 in areas where there

	Type of Course	Location		Number of Training Places
(a) In Kirkby	Typewriter and office practice	Kirkby Youth Club	…	10
	Engineering induction	Kirkby CFE	…	12
(b) In Ormskirk	None.
(c) Within the travel to work area

Motor Vehicle Servicing
St. Helen Technical Col.	12
Southport Technical Col.	10
Sewing Machinists
Northgate Ltd.	20
Peter Bland Ltd.	6
Southport Technical College	6
R. & L. Manufacturing, Walton	6
Engineering induction
Hugh Baird CFE	12
Kirkby CFE	12
N. E. Technical College	12
Prescot CFE	10
St. Helens Technical College	12
Wm. Neill Southport	10
Southport Technical College	10
Southport Technical College	10
English Electric Walton	30
Construction
Booths training centre	54
Concrete Practice
Riversdale Technical College	20
Gardening
Merseyside Parks and gardens	10
Skelmersdale Development Corporation	6
Office Practice
Kirkby Youth Club	10
Care assistants
Mabel Fletcher	15
Laboratory work
Old Swan Technical College	10
St. Helens Technical College	15
Welding and sheet metal fabrics
North-East Technical College	12
Office skills
Southport Technical College	20
Building craft Appreciation
Southport Technical College	12
Food preparation
Southport Technical College	12
Wider opportunities
Liverpool skillcentre	24

In addition, the TSA is currently involved with local interests in planning the provision of further training for

NUMBERS UNEMPLOYED IN EMPLOYMENT OFFICE AREAS
				Biddulph	Cheadle	Kidsgrove	Leek
February 1974	…	…	…	131	122	213	145
March 1977	…	…	…	248	291	487	458
Figures for March 1977 are provisional.