§ Mrs. Virginia Bottomleyasked the Paymaster General what response he has had to the steps he has announced he is taking to assist the long-term unemployed.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe new restart programme, under which all long-term unemployed people will be invited for a jobcentre interview by the end of next March, has been widely welcomed, notably by the long-term unemployed themselves. In the period to 12 June, in those areas where the programme started early, 95 per cent. of those due to be interviewed in the period responded positively by attending for their interview.
We are also continuing to expand the community programme, which provides worthwhile job opportunities for over 300,000 long-term unemployed people.
The wide range of measures to assist the unemployed and others is described in our booklet "Action for Jobs", which has been widely distributed and well received.