HC Deb 19 March 1979 vol 964 cc412-4W
Mr. Parry

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what action his Department has taken to reduce the impact of unemployment in Liverpool.

Mr. Golding

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 15 March 1979; Vol. 964, c. 310], gave the following information:

My Department has sought to reduce the high level of unemployment in Liverpool in a number of ways.

We have, through the programme of special employment and training measures, so far helped some 35,000 people in Liverpool. Details of those helped under the various measures are given in the table below. Assistance will be continued under the new programme of measures announced by my right hon. Friend on 20 February.

On 14 March I chaired a meeting at which the Liverpool city and Merseyside county councils were represented, along with senior officials of the Department of Employment and the Manpower Services Commission. At this meeting it was decided that the MSC would set up a working party to look at measures to tackle the problem of the long-term unemployed. This working party will consider proposals put forward locally to develop employment and training in Liverpool.

Many people have also been helped through the training opportunities scheme provided by the Training Services Division of the MSC. During 1977–78 some 5,300 men and women, including 1,302 young people, successfully completed TOPS courses in Merseyside and the target for the current year is over 5,900 including nearly 2,200 young people.

We have been particularly concerned to help young people who, since leaving school, have found it difficult to get a job. Under the current youth opportunities programme over 5,300 young people in Liverpool have been helped.

Following discussions which I have held with the careers officers and the staff of the Manpower Services Commission's special programmes division on Mersey-side, the staffing of the careers service has been increased. There will also be an increase—from 200 to 450—in the number of community industry places available in Liverpool.

Additionally, we have tried to meet the needs of Merseyside by introducing new funding arrangements for training workshops, project based work experience schemes and community service schemes under YOP and for special temporary employment programme schemes. These should encourage more sponsors to come forward.

On 17 November 1978 I visited Liverpool and was able to announce an MSC grant of £2.8 million to the city to provide jobs for the long-term unemployed on projects to assist in the rehabilitation of property in the city's ownership and to help improve the amenities and appearances of parks and other public land.

My Department remains fully aware of the serious employment problems facing Liverpool and will continue to do all it can to help reduce unemployment in the city.

Following are the measures:

Scheme Liverpool travel to work area
Temporary Employment Subsidy(up to 14.2.1979)
Applications approved 176
Number of workers involved 14,421

Youth Opportunities Programme(up to 28.2.1979)
People assisted 5,308
Work Experience Programme(up to 31.3.1978)
Schemes available 382
Places involved 982
Special Temporary Employment Programme(up to 28.2.1979)
People assisted 520
Job Creation Programme(up to 21.7.1978)
Projects approved 526
Number of jobs created 7,543
Youth Employment Subsidy(up to 30.6.1978)
Applications approved 2,498
Recruitment Subsidy for School Leavers(up to 30.4.1977) Final date
Applications approved 1,426
Job Release Scheme(up to 6.3.1979)
Applications approved 1,150
Small Firms Employment Subsidy(as at 28.2.1979)
Number of jobs involved 1,107
Total number of people assisted 34,955