HC Deb 21 June 1995 vol 262 cc277-80W
Mr. Frank Field

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will list the numbers leaving restart interviews, as an actual number and as a percentage of total leavers, for each year of its operation stipulating those who went into work, those who went into further employment schemes and those who become unemployed, and, of these, if he will list the type and level of qualification each leaver obtained, including those who failed to obtain any qualification at all; [27509]

(2) if he will list the numbers attending and leaving restart interviews, for each year of their operation. [27519]

Miss Widdecombe

Responsibility for the subject of the questions has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Frank Field, dated 21 June 1995: The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions about the number of people attending Restart Interviews for each year of operation and the numbers who went into employment schemes. I have set out the information you have requested in the attached tables. Restart interviews do not lead directly to qualifications, although they do lead to opportunities such as Training for Work which provide qualifications. Nor do they have "leavers" in the way that our programmes do. It may also be helpful if I explain the scope and purpose of the Restart interviews which are offered at regular six monthly intervals as part of a comprehensive advisory and information service aimed at helping people back into work. These interviews provide clients with the opportunity to discuss with an Employment Service (ES) Client Adviser, the steps they are taking to find work, how to access the employment and training opportunities that are available to them, and the course of action which, if followed, will offer the best prospects of returning to work. I should emphasise that the figures quoted in the tables represent only the immediate result of Restart interviews. However, the real measure of the effectiveness of these interviews lies in their longer term effects. Many people subsequently take up a job or a place on an employment or training programme as a result of the guidance given to them at their interview. Independent researchers who have studied the Restart Interview programme have concluded that this indirect effect is extremely significant. For example, a study published by the Policy Studies Institute in August 1992, "The Restart Effect", found that the difference made by Restart in influencing the time people took to leave unemployment was about the same as the difference between being qualified or not qualified, fit or in poor health, in a favourable or unfavourable labour market. I hope this is helpful.

1988–89
Total As percentage of total interviews
Total restart interviews 2,053,580 —
Job placings 12,367 0.6
Programmes starts1 270,381 13.1
1 Jobclub. Enterprise Allowance Scheme.

Employment Training.

Job Training Scheme.

Community Programme.

Voluntary Project Programme.

1989–90
Total As percentage of total interviews
Total restart interviews 2,032,633 —
Job placings 18,439 0.9
Programmes starts1 261,347 12.9
1 Jobclub. Enterprise Allowance Scheme.

Restart Course.

Employment Training.

1990–91
Total As percentage of total interviews
Total restart interviews 1,888,378 —
Job placings 19,066 1.0
Programmes starts1 192,763 10.2
1 Jobclub. Enterprise Allowance Scheme.

Restart Course.

Employment Training.

1991–92
Total As percentage of total interviews
Total restart interviews 2,495,940 —
Job placings 21,185 0.8
Programmes starts1 343,004 13.7
1 Jobclub. Enterprise Allowance Scheme.

Restart Course.

Employment Training.

Job Review Workshop.

Employment Action.

Job Interview Guarantee.

1991–92
Total As percentage of total interviews
Total restart interviews 2,818,281 —
Job placings 33,272 1.2
Programmes starts1 397,035 14.1
1 Jobclub. Enterprise Allowance Scheme.

Restart Course.

Employment Training.

Job Review Workshop.

Employment Action.

Job Interview Guarantee.

Job Search Seminar.

1993–94
Total As percentage of total interviews
Total restart interviews 3,324,141 —
Job placings 35,884 1.1
Programmes starts1 731,840 22.0
1 Jobclub. Restart Course.

Training for Work.

Learning for Work.

Jobplan.

Job Review Workshop.

Job Search Seminar.

Community Action.

Job Interview Guarantee.

Business Start-Up.

1994–95
Total As percentage of total interviews
Total restart interviews 3,758,593 —
Job placings 49,493 1.3
Programmes starts1 901,832 24.0
1 Jobclub. Business Start-Up.

  • Restart Course.
  • Training for Work.
  • Community Action.
  • Learning For Work.
  • Job Interview Guarantee.
  • Work Trial.
  • Job Search Seminar.
  • Jobplan.
  • Job Review Workshop.
  • Workwise.