§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what measures she is taking to alleviate hardship resulting from concentrations of high unemployment.
§ Mr. McLoughlinThe social security system provides comprehensive support for unemployed people in all parts of the country through unemployment benefit, income support and help with housing costs. The social fund provides a mixture of interest-free loans and non-repayable grants to meet the costs of specific items. To help unemployed people to find work as quickly as possible, we are now offering the widest range of help and advice ever made available to unemployed people.