§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Prime Minister if she will list all Government measures passed, since taking office in 1979, to help the unemployed and to alleviate unemployment; and if she will also evaluate the overall cost of these measures.
§ The Prime MinisterSince 1979 we have introduced a range of measures to help the unemployed, and to provide training for both employed and unemployed people. We have also modified and improved a number of measures which were in place when we came to office. The measures are: community programme; enterprise allowance scheme; job release scheme; job clubs; job search scheme; job splitting scheme; job start allowance; restart programme; new workers scheme; part time job release scheme; young workers scheme; Community Industry; voluntary projects programme; YTS; job training scheme; training for enterprise; wider opportunities training programme; training grants for employers; Open Tech programme; access to information technology; career development loans.
Expenditure on our employment and training measures in cash terms from 1979 to the end of this financial year will be in the region of £13 billion. Our current range of employment, enterprise and training measures is described in the recently published booklet "Action for Jobs".