asked the Secretary of State for Employment why he has decided to halve the number of people employed on community enterprise projects in Leeds.

The responsibility for allocation of places available under the community enterprise programme falls to the Manpower Services Commission, which administers the programme on my right hon. Friend's behalf. There will be a reduction in the number of community enterprise programme places available in Leeds over the next few months in order to provide a more equitable distribution of the available places throughout the Yorkshire and Humberside region. All existing schemes in Leeds will continue until completion, and the reduction in the numbers employed on community enterprise schemes will be gradual. Overall, the number of places provided in Yorkshire Humberside region will remain the same.