§ Mr. Fatchettasked the Paymaster General w hat has been the impact on targeted community programme schemes in the eight task force areas of the embargo on recruitment of under 25-year-olds to community programme places in connection with the job training scheme; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Kenneth Clarke[pursuant to his reply, 16 February 1987, c. 427]: There is no embargo on the recruitment of under-25-year-olds to the community programme. However, in the nine original job training scheme pilot areas, eligibility for under-25-year-olds is the same as for other long-term unemployed people, namely that they 611W should have been unemployed for at least 12 out of the last 15 months. We believe that, where good quality job training is available, it is a more positive and preferable option for most young unemployed people under the age of 25.
The effect of having community programme and job training scheme places available has been to increase the help open to people unemployed for 12 months or more.
The eight task force areas of the inner cities initiative continue to enjoy priority in the targeting of MSC programmes and the allocation of community programme places.