§ Mr. PendryTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what measures he intends to take to improve employment prospects in Tameside; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. JacksonMy Department, the employment service, and the training and enterprise councils operate a range of employment, enterprise and training programmes designed to improve the employment prospects of the unemployed. These measures are available in Tameside as elsewhere.
The employment service is expanding the help available through job clubs; and also has in place a five-point job help package, which provides comprehensive counselling and advice for the unemployed.
In the period April 1990 to January 1991, in the Manchester East employment service area, over 23,600 unemployed people 'had the benefit of a Restart interview and almost 900 were helped to find employment through attendance at job clubs.
§ Mr. PendryTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what action he intends to take to improve training opportunities in Tameside.
Mr. JacksonMy right hon. and learned Friend has recently contracted with Manchester TEC to provide training and enterprise opportunities in the Tameside area. Manchester TEC is working closely with the local authority in Tameside both through the TEC consultative group and by working with the local authority on its own economic development strategy.