§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the various schemes of aid to employment for which his Department is responsible and which do not operate in the West Midlands.
§ Mr. GoldingI will reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the exclusion of the West Midlands from the new early retirement scheme.
§ Mr. GoldingThe recently announced job release scheme which is to operate from 3rd January 1977 for a period of six months does not apply outside the assisted areas. This scheme is a new approach, as yet untried in this country, to the reduction of unemployment. It is limited to assisted areas which, in general, are the areas most affected by structural unemployment.