§ Q17. Mr. Ioan Evansasked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on the general progress of Government policy in dealing with the problem of unemployment.
§ The Prime MinisterThe Government are laying the foundation for sound sustainable recovery by curbing inflation and encouraging enterprise and initiative.
The special employment measures covered 828,000 people at the end of December. Of these 595,500 were receiving assistance under the temporary short-time working compensation scheme to preserve 270,000 potentially redundant jobs.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment announced on 21 November 1980 the continuation of the measures in 1981–82, including a major expansion of the youth opportunities programme.