§ Dr. TwinnTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has for the future of the jobstart programme; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Michael HowardThe jobstart programme started in July 1986 as part of the package of measures available under the restart programme. Its aim is to encourage long-term unemployed people to take up full-time jobs they would otherwise not consider by paying them an allowance of £20 a week for six months. An adaptation of the programme was introduced as a pilot programme in520W four areas in June 1989. It aimed to encourage people aged over 50 to take up part-time work as a route back into full time work.
Research has shown that the programme is not meeting this aim. A large number of participants would have taken their jobs without the allowance. In addition, it has sometimes been used to subsidise the wages of young single people.
Take up of the programme has fallen significantly in the current financial year with applications in the last four months less than 50 per cent. of those for the same period last year. In these circumstances I have decided that the programme will close on 28 February 1991. The 50-plus jobstart pilots will also close at the same time.