§ Mr. David MartinTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest figures available for the162W number of people who have found jobs through using the services of the job clubs at Lake road jobcentre, Portsmouth.
§ Mr. LeeFrom when the job club opened in January 1987 up to the end of September 1988, a total of 159 members have found jobs. This means that 81 per cent. of people leaving went into jobs and a further 8 per cent. left for other positive outcomes such as training or a place on the enterprise allowance scheme. This 90 per cent. success rate is a very commendable achievement by the Lake road job club.
§ Ms. ShortTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many job clubs have been opened and closed since the start of the programme; how many of those are run directly by jobcentres or other sponsors; what future developments are likely in the job club programme; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LeeThe numbers of job clubs opened and closed since the start of the programme are not readily available and it would be costly to get this information. There are currently 1,221 job clubs open. Of these 539 are run by employment service staff, mainly based in jobcentres, with 682 run by other organisations working to an annual contract. Future developments include forming close links with employment training, giving extra help to job club members in inner city areas and providing help for people in more remote rural areas who cannot readily attend a job club regularly. The shape of the programme for 1989–90 is currently under con-sideration as part of the annual planning round.