§ Mr. SalmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to introduce a scheme, as part of the New Life for Urban Scotland programme, whereby long-term unemployed people will be asked to work for employers on a benefit-only basis; what guarantee of employment will be attached to such arrangements; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. FowlerOn 9 March, in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Wyre Forest (Mr. Coombs)Official Report, column 616, I announced that my Department will be piloting a scheme for employers to guarantee to interview long-term unemployed people in return for help in selecting and preparing them for jobs. As part of the scheme, unemployed people will have the option, on an entirely voluntary basis, of trying out a job for a short period of time while they are still drawing benefit. I shall be announcing full details of this scheme shortly.