§ Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the Government's plans to alleviate the problem of the long-term unemployed.
§ Mr. AlisonWe are already providing a great deal of help for the long-term unemployed through the community programme, but, as my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said on 26 October—[Vol. 29, c.343]—the principal way in which we can provide lasting help for the long-term unemployed, and unemployed people more generally, is by tackling the underlying causes of our economic decline, by setting the economy to rights and creating the conditions for growth.