§ 25. Mr. Evennettasked the Paymaster General what additional measures he intends to take to reduce unemployment in London.
§ Mr. LangAs my right hon. and learned Friend announced on 12 November, London will benefit from the extension of the enterprise allowance scheme, which is currently helping over 5,000 people in London to set up in business, and Ealing is one of the pilot areas for the job start scheme—our new initiative to help the long-term unemployed back into work. London has been allocated nearly £54 million of urban programme aid in 1986–87, and the London city action team co-ordinates and targets Government efforts in the London inner city partnership area. In addition, my right hon. and learned Friend announced on 6 February that we are establishing small task forces in Notting Hill and North Peckham as a further step to improve the targeting and enhance the benefits of Government aid to local people.
We will continue to provide practical help to the unemployed through our employment and training measures such as the community programme, which is currently benefiting over 12,000 long-term unemployed people in London, and the YTS which is to be extended to two years from 1 April. However, the main impact on unemployment must come from employers and those who decide to work for themselves. It is their drive towards competitiveness, profitability and keeping costs down that will provide new jobs in London and elsewhere.