§ 2.56 p.m.
§ Lord SandysMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.
The Question was as follows: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many Jobclubs have been established and whether there are plans to create more.
§ Lord Young of GraffhamMy Lords, at the end of June there were 130 Jobclubs in operation. As part of the Government's Action for Jobs campaign, the Manpower Services Commission now has plans to expand to around 300 Jobclubs by the end or December 1986 and to 450 Jobclubs by the end of April 1987. This is faster than had earlier been expected, in view of the increased need.
§ Lord SandysMy Lords, I thank my noble friend for that very encouraging Answer. Can he say whether this rate of expansion will be accompanied by links with the other programmes involved in a whole pattern of employment measures?
§ Lord Young of GraffhamMy Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend. Of course, Jobclubs form one of the eight opportunities offered to those who have been out 902 of work for a year or more under the restart programme, and so far they have appeared to be remarkably successful. Of those leaving Jobclubs, 63 per cent. have started work; a further 18 per cent. have left to take places on either the Government's community programme or one of our training courses. We are talking here specifically about those who have been out of work for more than a year. The situation is very encouraging, and for that reason we are acceler-ating the expansion of Jobclubs.