§ Ms. Glenda JacksonTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans she has to introduce unemployment and training schemes aimed specifically at people aged 40 years and over, among the long-term unemployed.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythThe Department's employment and training programmes are open to people unemployed for more than six months who are between the age of 18 and the state pension age, except for employment training and employment action where the upper limit is currently 59. We keep our provision for unemployed people under continual review, and have no plans for a scheme specifically restricted to people aged 40 or over.