§ 27. Mr. Donald Stewartasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will take steps to abolish in the special temporary employment programme the condition which requires six months' previous unemployment.
§ Mr. Golding:There is no requirement under the special temporary employment programme that participants should have been unemployed for six months. However, the programme is specifically intended to help the long term unemployed and for that reason preference in recruiting to schemes is given to men and women aged 19 to 24 who have been unemployed for six months or more and those aged 25 or over who have been unemployed for 12 months or more.