§ Mr. Leightonasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he has anything to add to his answer of 20 November, Official Report, column 139, that there was no reason why the 1,016 young people over the age of 18 years in Newham should not have had either a job or training experience.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkYes. Unlike most other local authorities, Newham borough council has yet to start up a single project under the community programme. Young people in the borough who are under 25 and unemployed for more than six months are therefore being deprived of the opportunities for temporary work which the programme offers. I would urge the hon. Member to investigate the reasons for this delay and seek to ensure their speedy resolution.