§ 21. Mr. Madelasked the Secretary of State for Employment what further measures his Department is considering to increase job opportunities between now and 31st December 1978; and if he will make a statement.
§ 27. Mr. Loydenasked the Secretary of State for Employment, in the light of the latest unemployment figures published on 18th July, what action he intends to take to reduce unemployment.
§ Mr. GoldingThe special measures are continuing to develop and should be assisting over 400,000 people by March 1979—100,000 more than at present. Expansion will take place in the youth opportunities programme and the special temporary employment programme, for which targets of 130,000 and 25,000 places respectively have been set, and in the job release scheme and the small firms employment subsidy, whose extended coverage my right hon. Friend announced on 15th March. Special consideration is being given to the problem of long-term unemployment and to the response to the consultative document "Compensation for Shore-time Working".