§ Mr. Knoxasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he intends to introduce new measures to help older people who have been unemployed for long periods.
§ Mr. John GoldingThe Government in consultation with the Manpower Services Commission, are considering the future of the Job Creation Programme for adults which gives a high priority to older people who have been unemployed for long periods. They will reach a decision as quickly as possible. The Manpower Services Commission's Employment Services Agency will introduce a new special employment needs service in the autumn708W in certain areas. This will be an extension to the ESA's present range of employment services, to help job seekers with particularly difficult employment problems including older people who have been unemployed for long periods. The ESA is also introducing a new job introduction for disabled people, many of whom have been unemployed for long periods. The Government, in consultation with the Manpower Services Commission, are considering the possibility of a similar job introduction scheme specifically for the long-term unemployed.