HC Deb 19 June 1979 vol 968 cc476-9W
16. Mr. Roy Hughes

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans for further job creation schemes in Wales.

Mr. Jim Lester

The Government intend to create a climate in which there will be more secure and wealth-creating jobs by removing the barriers to enterprise, reforming taxation and providing employers and others with incentives to succeed.

In the meantime the youth opportunities programme will continue on the lines indicated in my earlier reply to the honourable Member for Caernarvon (Mr. Wigley). This means that YOP will operate throughout Wales.

The special temporary employment programme will continue to operate in special development areas, development areas and designated inner city areas. This means that the programme will cover the whole of Wales except those small parts of Clwyd and Gwynedd which are designated as intermediate areas.

19. Mr. Dempsey

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what proposals he has to reduce the numbers of unemployed in the United Kingdom and Scotland, respectively; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Prior

Unemployment in both Scotland and the United Kingdom as a whole will be reduced satisfactorily only by the creation of new real jobs. This is the objective of the strategy set out in the Gracious Speech and the Budget Statement of my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer. We are also continuing to operate a programme of special employment measures some of which will be concentrated in future on the areas with special employment needs.

20. Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement about the future of the youth opportunities programme.

Mr. Jim Lester

I refer the hon. Member to my earlier reply to the hon. Member for Caernarvon (Mr. Wigley).

21. Dr. David Clark

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether any decisions have been taken in respect of the future of the special temporary employment programmes or the youth opportunities project.

Mr. Jim Lester

I refer the hon. Member to my earlier reply about the youth opportunities programme to the hon. Member for Caernarvon (Mr. Wigley). We have decided that the special temporary employment programme will continue to operate but will be concentrated on special development areas, development areas and designated inner city areas.

24. Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list all those temporary job saving measures currently employed in Kirkby and Ormskirk; and if all these are to continue in existence.

Mr. Jim Lester

The job saving measures currently being operated in Kirkby and Ormskirk are the temporary employment subsidy and the temporary short time working compensation scheme.

Both of these will be continued in those areas though no new applications for the temporary employment subsidy have been accepted since 31 March this year. There will be a maximum period of six months compensation under the temporary short time working compensation scheme for applications received after 30 June instead of the maximum period of 12 months' compensation as at present.

25. Mr. Hooley

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many places in the youth opportunities programme will be lost as a result of the reduction of £18 million in its budget; and how many places will disappear as a result of the reduction of £30 million in the special temporary employment programme

Mr. Jim Lester

The reduction in expenditure on the youth opportunities programme and the special temporary employment programme in 1979–80 will be £25.2 million and £42.2 million respectively. For the youth opportunities programme, the Manpower Services Commission's aim is to remain within the 100,000–120,000 target of filled places although there will be a small reduction in the number of young people participating in the programme at its peak. The revised special temporary employment programme will have a target of 12,000–14,000 places compared with the original target for 1979–80 of 30,000–35,000 filled places and will in future be concentrated in special development areas, development areas and designated inner city areas where the need is greatest

27. Mr. Stan Thorne

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what policy matters he is currently exploring with a view to providing new jobs in the Preston travel-to-work area.

Mr. Jim Lester

In the Government's view the provision of more real jobs is dependent upon the creation of a climate in which industry is encouraged to expand and flourish. We aim to create such a climate by restoring incentives, encouraging efficiency and by revitalising the economy

37. Mr. Ioan Evans

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what measures he proposes to reduce unemployment.

Mr. Prior

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave earlier to the hon. Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner).