HC Deb 18 March 1986 vol 94 cc170-1W
23. Mr. Kennedy

asked the Paymaster General if he will make a statement on the current operation of the community programme.

Mr. Lang

The community programme continues to operate successfully and currently provides 192,000 long-term unemployed people with the opportunity of worthwhile employment on projects of benefit to the community.

56. Mr. Campbell-Savours

asked the Paymaster General how the value of the average allowance paid on the community programme compares with the allowances paid since 1979 under the special temporary employment programme and the community enterprise programme.

Mr. Lang

Under all three programmes participants have been paid the locally agreed hourly rate for the job, not an allowance. For each programme there has been a limit on the extent to which sponsors of projects are reimbursed the wages costs of participants. Under the community programme the limit is £63 per week per participant (excluding managers and supervisors whose wages costs are fully reimbursed). The limit under the special temporary employment programme was £71 per week per participant in 1979, rising to £83 from July 1980. The limit for the community enterprise programme was originally £83 per week per participant, rising to £89 in June 1982.

The current limit for the community programme is not directly comparable with those for the other programmes because of the large number of part time workers on the community programme.

74. Mr. Terry Davis

asked the Paymaster General how many people obtained jobs under the community programme in 1985 or for the most recent 12-month period for which statistics are available; and how many of these people had been unemployed for more than three years.

Mr. Lang

During the 12 months period ending on 31 January 1986 (the latest date for which statistics are available) 220,399 people obtained employment on community programme projects.

Information on the number of these people who have been unemployed for more than three years is not readily available, and could only be obtained at a disporportionate cost.

Mr. Favell

asked the Paymaster General if he will review the present system of eligibility for the community programme.

Mr. Lang

The operation of community programme eligibility is kept under continuous review, including the eligibility criteria for priority entry.