§ Mr. Baldryasked the Paymaster General if he will make a statement on jobclubs, with particular reference to their funding and terms of reference.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkThe purpose of jobclubs is to coach groups of long-term unemployed people in job finding techniques, provide them with facilities for intensive job hunting, and motivate and support them in looking for work.
The Manpower Services Commission is currently operating 29 jobclubs and I have asked it to expand rapidly, should evaluation confirm the very encouraging results so far, to around 200 by the end of 1986.
Jobclubs are being funded out of existing MSC resources. The majority of jobclubs are housed in jobcentres, and all are run by jobcentre staff.