§ Mr. Baldryasked the Paymaster General if he will make a statement on his recently announced policy of making money available to local charities so as to provide jobs.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeOn 4 November, I announced that £3 million has been set aside to help charities provide up to 1,000 new jobs for long-term unemployed people, and expand their services to the community. The jobs will involve work such as help for the elderly and disabled, and caring for handicapped children.
This initiative will extend the valuable work already undertaken by voluntary organisations under the community programme. Instead of setting up specific projects, charities will be able to add additional posts to their existing organisation.
Recruits should gain very useful experience which will stand them in good stead with future employers.
The success of this experiment will be reviewed in the course of 1986.