HC Deb 25 February 1991 vol 186 cc368-9W
Mr. Harry Barnes

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of job vacancies is taken up by the long-term unemployed.

Mr. Jackson

Questions on operational matters in the Employment Service executive agency are the responsibility of Mike Fogden, the agency's chief Executive, to whom I have referred this question for reply.

Mr. Harry Barnes

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what measures he has undertaken to encourage employers to provide jobs for the long-term unemployed.

Mr. Jackson

We have in place an extensive range of employment and training measures to help long-term unemployed people compete more effectively in the labour market. The job interview guarantee specifically aims to encourage employers to consider long-term unemployed people for their vacancies and has had proven success in helping people back into jobs in the difficult labour markets of the inner cities. The Secretary of State for Employment has announced that, from April 1991, we shall be providing up to 100,000 additional opportunities in programmes such as the job interview guarantee and job club which provide help in securing job interviews and jobsearch.