§ Ms. ShortTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what progress the employment service has made in meeting the numerical targets outlined in its 1990–91 agency agreement; and if he will show the specific targets and achievements for the latest available date in relation to(a) placing unemployed people in jobs, (b) placing the long-term unemployed in jobs and (c) the number of claims not pursued; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. JacksonEmployment service targets for placing people into jobs this financial year are set out in the annual performance agreement published in April 1990. I am informed by the chief executive of the employment service that in the period April to December 1990 the employment service placed 1,088,286 unemployed people into jobs (annual target 1,650,000), of whom 165,400 had been 593W claiming benefit for six months or longer (annual target 275,000). Over the same period 320,034 people enquired at local offices of the employment service about entitlement to benefit but did not pursue a claim (reference level 400,000 in 1989–90 financial year). The chief executive will report to the Secretary of State on employment service achievements at the end of the financial year and his report will be published in the summer.