HC Deb 04 July 1978 vol 953 cc101-2W
6. Mr. Donald Stewart

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will now seek to abolish the requirement of a period of 12 months' unemployment to qualify under the new scheme to replace job creation.

Mr. Golding

There is no requirement under the new special temporary employment programme, which succeeds the job creation programme and began on 1st April 1978, that participants should have been unemployed for 12 months. However, the programme is specifically in- tended to help the long-term unemployed and for that reason preference in recruiting to schemes is given to men and women aged 19–24 who have been unemployed for six months or more and those aged 25 or over who have been unemployed for 12 months or more.