§ Rev. Martin SmythTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about his policy for preventing young people from coming into contact with paramilitaries in Belfast whilst unemployed; if he has any plans to delay changes to the funding arrangements for community workshops; and what progress has been made by the Department of Economic Development in preparing for these changes.
§ Mr. NeedhamThe Government's social and economic policies are designed to address the problems of the unemployed and include specific education and training schemes, improved access to available employment through job clubs and job markets, the creation of employment through inward investment, setting up and expansion of small businesses, and schemes such as ACE, and encouragement to bona fide local community organisations to become directly involved in improving social and economic conditions in local areas.
701WThe Belfast action teams, operating over a large area of the city. work in partnership with community groups. To encourage groups to make use of the services and facilities provided by the statutory bodies some pump-priming funding is available.
There are no plans to delay the implementation of the new funding arrangements. However, discussions have taken place and will continue with representatives of community workshops to consider whether modifications need to be made to the new funding arrangements to meet their concerns.