Lord Chelwoodasked Her Majesty's Government:
Why the Enterprise Allowance Scheme was not more widely advertised, and whether the target of 77,000 people has now been reached; what new targets have been set and how they propose to amend the qualifying conditions and financial incentives to assist more unemployed people to start new businesses.
§ The Minister Without Portfolio (Lord Young of Graffham)The enterprise allowance scheme is widely advertised in jobcentres and information is available in other organisations where enquiries can be expected, such as unemployment benefit offices, post offices, banks, local enterprise agencies and the Department of Trade and Industry's small firms service. Local press and other media advertising is used where appropriate.
By the end of February 1985, nearly 70,000 unemployed people had joined the scheme since it was introduced nationally on 1st August 1983. As my right honourable friend the Secreary of State for Employment announced in another place on 12th November 1984 [Official Report, Vol. 67, cols. 445–446], the scheme is to be expanded by a further 25 per cent. from 1st April 1985 to allow up to 1,250 new entrants per week. We have no immediate plans at the moment to vary the scheme's conditions, but continue to keep them under close review.