§ 11. Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the future of the community programme.
§ 44. Mr. Pawseyasked the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to make the community programme full-time.
§ Mr. FowlerWe plan to improve the community programme by making it full-time and paying a premium over and above social security entitlements. This will make the programme much more attractive to long-term unemployed people with families. We also propose to enhance significantly the training content of the programme.
§ 41. Mr. Michael McNair-Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has any plans to extend the community programme.
§ 66. Mr. Campbell-Savoursasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has any plans to increase the number of places on the community programme.
§ Mr. LeeThe community programme will provide valuable work experience for some 300,000 long-term unemployed people in 1987–88, the same level as in 1986–87.
§ 67. Mr. Fisherasked the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to alter the rules of the community programme.
§ Mr. LeeWe are considering a number of changes to the operation of the community programme. We have already decided that from 1 October all entrants to the programme must have been continuously unemployed for at least 12 months and that priority will be given to those aged under 50 who have been unemployed for more than two years.
73. Mr. Andy Stewartasked the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to encourage married men with children to undertaken training and work experience on the community programme.
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§ Mr. LeeWe are planning to make the community programme much more attractive to long-term unemployed people with families by making it full time and by paying participants a premium over and above their social security entitlement. In addition, we propose to enhance significantly the training and job search content of the programme.
§ 101. Mr. Maclennanasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied with the balance in provision of community programme places relative to the number of eligible long-term unemployed.
§ Mr. LeeCommunity programme places are allocated to regions and areas in the light of both national priorities set out in MSC planning guidance for 1987–88 and priorities determined locally in consultation with area manpower hoards. This process takes full account of the distribution and concentration of long-term unemployed and I am satisfied that it results in a fair balance of provision throughout Great Britain.
106. Mr. Harry Greenway asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the progress of the community programme.
§ Mr. LeeThe community programme is successfully providing worthwhile opportunities which enhance the employment prospects of some 300,000 people a year. There have been important improvements in the quality of projects and there is now a closer focus on priorities such as inner cities, enterprise, and national initiatives like crime prevention, energy efficiency and tourism.