§ Mr. Ron Daviesasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people were employed by environmental and conservation groups in the United Kingdom under the community programme at the latest available date; what was the number in 1986; and if he is able to forecast numbers for 1987 and 1988.
§ Mr. Lee[holding answer 26 October 1987]: On 14 October 1987, there were 62,868 authorised places on the community programme, primarily on environmental and landscaping projects. On 20 November 1986, the nearest comparable date, there were 81,256 such places; it is not possible to forecast the corresponding number of places for 1988. Other places often include an element of environmental and landscape improvement.
§ Mr. Ron Daviesasked the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the proposed changes in eligibility for employment under the community programme on recruitment by conservation and environmental groups; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. Lee[holding answer 26 October 1987]: The changes in community programme eligibility will focus the programme more closely on long-term unemployed people, a group most in need of the opportunities the programme provides. There are unlikely to be any major effects on recruitment, with over 1 million people eligible for a place under the new eligibility rules.