§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Employment what assistance is given to the long-term unemployed in finding employment; how often they are called for interview; and what priority they are given for vacancies when the latter arise.
§ Mr. Jim LesterI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission—MSC—that all the facilities of the public employment service including self-service, employment advice and occupational guidance are available to all job seekers whether employed or unemployed and irrespective of the length of their period of unemployment.
Unemployed people are not called for interview at predetermined intervals. Individual registrants' qualifications and requirements, and the demands of the labour market vary considerably, and decisions about the timing of interviews need to be taken locally in the light of these circumstances as well as of the staffing resources available for interview work.
78WPriority is not afforded to long-term unemployed people when submitting registrants to vacancies other than under the MSC's special temporary employment programme.