Unemployment (Hansard, 26 February 1998)

§ 9. Mr. Gapes
If he will make a statement on his Department's measures to reduce unemployment. [29887]

§ Mr. Andrew Smith
We shall continue with policies for sustainable economic growth and employability that create employment opportunity for all, including raising educational standards and extending lifelong learning, as well as the new deal and other Employment Service measures.

§ Mr. Gapes
I am grateful for that reply. Will the Minister continue to make sure that the Government's policy to get people off benefit and into work will lead to long-term employability, and real skills and education so 486 that they will have long-term prospects in the job market, in contrast to the failed policies of the previous Government—the Mickey Mouse jobs and the so-called schemes which left so many young people bitterly disillusioned about their prospects of getting work in future?

§ Mr. Smith
Yes, indeed. My hon. Friend is right to say that the new deal will offer real jobs and qualifications leading to a life in work instead of a life on benefit. That is why every employer agreement—subject to the young person progressing satisfactorily and being sufficiently well motivated—commits the employer to providing a continuing job beyond the period of subsidy. That is why we insist that young people have at least the equivalent of one day a week training towards a recognised qualification. As those features of the new deal become better known among young people as well as employers, hundreds of youngsters are trying to get on to the programme early.

§ Mrs. Browning
The Minister will be aware that, among the people on benefit whom the hon. Member for Ilford, South (Mr. Gapes) mentioned, are people with learning disabilities, who might be quite capable of carrying out the tasks required in the workplace but whose essential difficulty might be communication and behavioural problems. What, in practical terms, do the Government intend to provide as support either to them or to the workplace to enable more people with learning disabilities to get off benefit and into work?

§ Mr. Smith
The hon. Lady raises an important concern. That is why the programme provides for early entry into the new deal for disabled people, including those with learning difficulties. They will not have to be in receipt of jobseeker's allowance for six months before being able to receive the benefits of the new deal. Those benefits will include, as a follow-up to the initial gateway interview, assessment of their particular needs and referral to specialist course and agencies, including voluntary groups with a track record of success in working in the community, to ensure that needs are addressed. Another core feature of the new deal is such tailored help, which responds to individuals' needs. We want to ensure that those with learning difficulties or other disabilities get a fair deal through the new deal.

§ Mr. Barry Jones
May I remind my right hon. Friend of the tens of thousands of redundancies in the steel industry over many years? Many of them took place in my constituency. We have also lost development area status and objective 2 status. Many estates, streets and communities are still trying to pick up the pieces following the redundancies. Will the new deal help the long-term unemployed?

§ Mr. Smith
Yes, it will. My hon. Friend's constituents will be able to benefit from the employer subsidies for recruitment and the training and study opportunities that the new deal will make available from June for long-term unemployed people—as well as being able to benefit from the wider application of the principles of employment zones, which I described earlier.