§ 21. Mr. Michael McNair-Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Employment what discussions he has had with local authorities about providing work opportunities for unemployed persons.
§ Mr. GoldingThe provision of opportunities under the new youth opportunities and special temporary employment programmes is a matter for the Manpower Services Commission. I am informed by the Commission, which includes local authority representation, that it has held extensive consultations about the programmes with local authority associations as well as with a large number of individual local authorities. Representatives of local authorities will be included in the 28 area boards which will decide the details and balance of the programme opportunities within the guidelines that176W ensure that resources will be distributed in proportion to the numbers of unemployed young people in each local education authority area. Individual LEAs can, if they wish, form a committee of interested groups and individuals to review the operations of the programme in its area, to plan projects and to formulate proposals for the future.