§ Dr. Roger Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Employment, in line with medical evidence that there is a heightened incidence of depression and other mental illness among those finding themselves redundant, if he will organise work, including possible voluntary productive work, to counter the ill effects of unemployment.
§ Mr. Jim LesterThe Government are, of course, concerned about the anxiety and distress that unemployment has brought to many workers and their families, although evidence on the extent of the relationship between unemployment on the one hand and ill health on the other is so far inconclusive.
The Government do, however, believe that there is a place for temporary measures to alleviate the worst effects of unemployment, particularly amongst the young, and I refer the hon. Member to the statement to the House on Friday 21 November 1980 in which my right hon. Friend gave details of the programme of special employment measures for 1981–82.