§ Mr. Sheermanasked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) to what extent the recent rule changes in the community programme will have the effect of maximising the impact of the scheme on the number of registered long-term unemployed rather than any long-term unemployment as such;
(2) what assessments he made of the effect of the recent rule changes in the community programme on unemployed women before their introduction;
28W(3) what reductions there were to the number of people eligible for the community programme as a result of recent rule changes.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonAs my right hon. Friend explained in his statement on 30 July, at columns 121–22, the recent changes to the community programme were intended to improve the prospects of resettling long-term unemployed people into regular jobs, help sponsors in the management of projects and ensure that places on the programme go to those most in need. They were introduced after careful assessment of their effects on both men and women and should improve the programme's use of taxpayers' money.
The number who will be affected by the decision to give priority to those people who meet the programme's criteria for long-term unemployment and are also benefit recipients will vary according to changing personal and family circumstances. We have provided that where benefit is claimed by a head of household and includes an element of payment for an unemployed spouse, that spouse will be regarded as a benefit recipient. As a result, some non-claimants and some included in the monthly count of the unemployed because they claim national insurance credits but not benefits will remain eligible for the programme, providing the other conditions for participation are also met.
§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of women employed on the Manpower Services Commission community programme; what percentage of the current total community programme work force are women; and, of those, how many were in receipt of benefit before joining the scheme.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonI shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Sean Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people in Merseyside he envisages will be affected by the proposed change in the eligibility conditions for the Government's community programme.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonNo changes in eligibility criteria for the community programme are currently proposed following those announced by my right hon. Friend in his reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Mid-Norfolk (Mr. Ryder) on 30 July, at columns121–22, and introduced from 1 October.
§ Mr. Sean Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people in Merseyside are presently covered by Her Majesty's Government's community programme.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonOn 31 October 1984, 5,476 people were employed on the community programme in Merseyside. Merseyside residents may also travel to work on community programme projects mounted outside the area.