§ Lord Stoddart of Swindonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the answer to Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish on 6th November (WA 182), how they intend to reduce the figure of 862,000 long-term unemployed, of whom 82 per cent. are men.
§ The Minister of State, Department for Education and Employment (Lord Henley):The figures quoted by Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish were for July 1995. October figures are now available and show that long-term unemployment stands at 825,700. That is a fall of over 36,000 in the quarter and is now 130,000 lower than a year ago. It has fallen for seven quarters in a row and is half a million lower than its peak in 1986. We propose to maintain our economic policies that have put us on course for sustained growth and to continue to offer unemployed men and women a wide range of help to ensure that they get back to work as quickly as possible.