§ 19. Mr. Norrisasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement relating to the job-generative effects of the enterprise allowance scheme.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkExperience in the pilot areas suggests that on average for every 100 firms set up under the scheme almost 50 other jobs have been created. About two thirds of these are part-time.
§ 24. Mr. Wattsasked the Secretary of State for Employment what measures he intends to take to reduce the queues of applicants waiting to go on the enterprise allowance scheme.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkI refer my hon. Friend to my reply of 1 May, at column 65, to my hon. Friend the Member for Harlow (Mr. Hayes).
§ 31. Mr. Galeasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the operation of the enterprise allowance scheme.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkThe scheme is proving very successful and demand for places is most encouraging. Some 33,000 have joined since the scheme was introduced nationally on 1 August 1983 and many of these new businesses are also creating jobs for other workers. We are now looking urgently at the future of the scheme and an announcement will be made as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Hirstasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether, in view of the potential savings in unemployment benefit which can be realised under the scheme, he has any plans to increase the funding of the enterprise allowance scheme to enable it to operate as an on demand scheme; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkI have already announced, on 1 May, at column 65, that we are considering the future funding of this scheme and that we will be making a statement as soon as possible.