§ Mr. Fauldsasked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if he will consider the provision of a grant of £4,000 to the Over-Forty-Fives Association, in view of its work in placing thousands of middle-aged and elderly men in jobs, which work may otherwise cease through lack of funds.
§ Mr. Dudley SmithNo. I recognise the need to provide help in a positive way for older people who are unemployed and seeking work, but I do not consider the provision of grants to employment agencies to be the right solution. I think it is better for the available resources to be concentrated on continuing the development of my Department's Employment Service.