§ Mr. Simon CoombsTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total number of people benefiting from special employment measures at the latest available date in the Swindon constituency; and what is the average cost per person supported under each measure.
§ Mr. EggarThe following programmes help to increase the opportunities available to unemployed people either to take up work or to start their own business. The figures indicate the number of people supported in the Gloucester and Wiltshire area, which includes Swindon, during August/September:
Number Enterprise allowance scheme 1,242 Job start 34 Job release scheme 80 The average cost per person on job start is £382. Average costs per person are not available for either the enterprise allowance scheme or the job release scheme. Job release pays people either £79.25 or £65.25 a week, depending on their circumstances, up to age 65. The net cost to the Exchequer of the enterprise allowance scheme is £1,846 per person taken off the unemployment count.
There are a number of other programmes available in Swindon which help unemployed people. These include the job club programme which provides training and support to help long-term unemployed with their job search activity. In September, 294 people were in a job club in the Gloucester and Wiltshire area.