HC Deb 29 October 1986 vol 103 cc155-6W
Mr. Ron Davies

asked the Paymaster General if he will provide an update of statistics published in July in the Official Report concerning the destination of the long-term unemployed interviewed to date under the new restart programme.

Mr. Lee

[pursuant to his reply, 23 October 1986, c. 939]: The information requested is given in the table.

Numbers interviewed and placed for the period 12 May to 9 October
Number
Interviewed 336,451
Placed in jobs 2,547
Placed on community programme 9,757
Placed in jobclubs 2,508
Placed on enterprise allowance scheme 1,585
Placed on training schemes 5,488
Placed on restart courses 31,012
Placed on the voluntary projects programme 1,054

The placings reflect only those arising from referrals made at the restart interview.

We know that 76 per cent. of participants agree to pursue the offer made to them at their interview and some of these submissions are still in the process of being followed up. The placings do not include the many people who find jobs, or other solutions to their unemployment, wholly or partly as a result of advice given by counselling staff or restart courses.

A recent survey conducted by the Manpower Services Commission showed that approximately 60 per cent. of people who had received restart interviews during the pilot programme and who subsequently left the unemployment register went into work and a further 8 per cent. into training.