HC Deb 22 July 1986 vol 102 cc176-7W
37. Mr. James Lamond

asked the Paymaster General if he will make a statement on the latest progress of the Government's measures to help the long-term unemployed.

Mr. Lang

The new restart programme which was extended nationwide from 1 July and under which all long-term unemployed people will be invited for a jobcentre interview by the end of next March has been widely welcomed, notably by the long-term unemployed themselves. In the period to 12 June, in those areas where the programme started early, 95 per cent. of those invited to be interviewed in the period responded positively by attending for their interview. We are also continuing to expand the community programme which will provide worthwhile job opportunities for over 300,000 long-term unemployed people in a full year. The range of our employment, training and enterprise measures is set out in our booklet "Action for Jobs" which has been widely distributed and positively received.

45. Mr. Hirst

asked the Paymaster General what new initiatives his Department is taking to assist the longer-term unemployed; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Lang

The restart programme for the long-term unemployed was extended nationwide on 1 July. Everyone who has been unemployed for a year or more will be invited for a jobcentre interview and offered one or more of eight positive opportunities designed to help them back into employment.

67. Mr. Lofthouse

asked the Paymaster General how many of the long-term unemployed have been interviewed under the Government's measures to help the long-term unemployed; and how many have been found full-time jobs.

Mr. Lang

35,644 people have been interviewed under the Government's measures to help the long-term unemployed; 28,175 under the pilot initiatives in nine selected areas of the country and 7,469 under the national restart programme.

Four thousand three hundred and twenty-two in the pilot areas have left the unemployment register since being interviewed; 1,605 of these were placed in jobs or community programme vacancies as a direct result of submissions made during the counselling interviews. It is not known how many of these were full-time jobs or full-time places on the community programme.

In addition, 166 people were placed in jobs or community programme places under the national restart programme.

It is not known how many of those who left the register did so as a result of referrals made by the normal jobcentre services subsequent to their restart counselling.