§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on progress on the re-start scheme in the Doncaster and Mexborough areas of South Yorkshire.
§ Mr. LeeFrom 28 March 1988 to 24 February 1989 just over 12,000 interviews have been carried out in Doncaster, of which 91 per cent. have resulted in an offer of positive help being made. Nearly 4,000 interviews have been carried out in Mexborough, of which 90 per cent. have resulted in an offer of positive help being made.
370WThe re-start programme now offers interviews at six-monthly intervals to everyone who has been unemployed for six months or more. In addition, certain clients are now offered follow-up interviews in order to provide further guidance and support.
Since September 1988 the programme has delivered the Government's guarantee to people aged between 18 and 24 who have been unemployed for between six and 12 months, of the offer of a place on employment training, in a job club or on the enterprise allowance scheme.