§ 63. Mr. Galleyasked the Paymaster General if he has any plans to guarantee places for the long-term unemployed on a Manpower Services Commission scheme after a specified period of unemployment.
§ Mr. LangOur response to the recent report of the Employment Committee has made it clear why we regard its proposal to provide a guarantee for the long-term unemployed as neither practicable nor cost-effective compared with our own approach to the problem of long-term unemployment. In July this year, we are launching the nationwide restart programme under which every person who has been unemployed for 12 months or more will be invited to come for an interview at a jobcentre, which will provide him or her with individual help and advice, leading in as many cases as possible to submission 111W to a job. A place on the community programme, a training course, entry to the enterprise allowance scheme or membership of a job club.