§ Mr. Hefferasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proposals he has for extra unemployment benefits to those considered long-term unemployed, namely, unemployed for more than 12 months.
§ Mr. Orme,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 16th February 1978; Vol. 944, c. 351], gave the following information:
I share my hon. Friend's concern about the growing number of long-term unemployed and I am considering whether anything more can be done to help this group. Extending the duration of unemployment benefit beyond 12 months would not, however, help those who were 492W unable to meet the contribution conditions for the benefit, and I have no proposals of this kind to put forward at present.