§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is aware of the problem in the North-West of the declining work-opportunity for men and women over 35 years of age; and if he will take steps to help employment prospects in this category.
§ Mr. Dudley SmithAccording to the latest figures available, those for January, people aged 35 and over form a lower proportion of the wholly unemployed register in North-Western Region than in 143W Great Britain as a whole. I am aware that employment problems exist for some in their late thirties but the difficulties are most acute for the over 55's.
My Department's staff in the employment exchanges do all they can to persuade employers to engage men and women who can do the job whatever their age. The new developments in training for the unemployed announced by my right hon. Friend on 4th November last are aimed at helping people of all ages. An important element is the special scheme of grants to employers in development and intermediate areas who engage and retrain workers who are over 45 years and who have been unemployed for at least eight weeks.