§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to expand the experiments in local exchange trading schemes under which unemployed participants in a local area work for each other. [59530]
§ Mr. ByersThe Government are investigating whether Local Exchange Trading Systems (LETS) can play an effective role in fostering community cohesion and encouraging unemployed people back into economic activity. The use of LETS is one of the issues being taken forward by the "Jobs" Policy Action Team, one of 18 teams set up as a follow up to the Social Exclusion Unit's report on deprived neighbourhoods "Bringing Britain together: a national strategy for neighbourhood renewal". This team is being headed by my right hon Friend, the Minister for Employment, Welfare to Work and Equal Opportunities and will report to the Prime Minister in July 1999.