HC Deb 26 October 1982 vol 29 c341W
Q33. Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

asked the Prime Minister what steps the Government are now taking to help those people who have been out of work for one year or more to get jobs.

The Prime Minister:

The full range of public employment and training services are already available to help the long-term unemployed. In addition, we are offering greatly increased opportunities for the long-term unemployed to engage in work of value to their communities through the new community programme which will offer work to 130,000 people. But the principal way in which we can provide lasting help for the long-term unemployed, and unemployed people more generally, is by tackling the underlying causes of our economic decline, by setting the economy to rights and creating the conditions for growth.