§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when she plans to issue a statement concerning the consultation on long-term unemployment; and if she will make a statement. [4423]
477W
§ Mr. WorthingtonResponsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Training and Employment Agency under its Chief Executive, Mr. Ian Walters. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter form Ian Walters to Dr. Norman Godman, dated 24 June 1997:
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me as Chief Executive of the Training and Employment Agency, to reply to your question about the current consultation on long-term unemployment in Northern Ireland.The initial stage of the consultation process has been completed with the publication of a consultative document and a series of public seminars across Northern Ireland. Those attending the seminars had the chance to discuss long-term unemployment with Agency officials and indeed with each other. In addition, we have received over 80 written submissions on the document and are currently in the process of reviewing each of them.As we continue the review we will take full account of the Government's Welfare to Work proposals and the priority attached to them.