§ Mr. David MarshallTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to reduce long-term unemployment in Glasgow; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. StewartThe key to increased employment is a prosperous and productive economy. The Government are firmly committed to removing the barriers to economic growth and to the stimulation of economic development, through various measures including the activities of Scottish Enterprise and its network of local enterprise companies, among which is the Glasgow Development Agency.
In relation to long-term unemployed individuals, we have introduced the most comprehensive range of measures there has ever been in this country to help people back to work. The Employment Service already provides a wide range of services which contribute to two thirds of people who become unemployed leaving unemployment within six months. From the summer it will also provide community action, a new programme of voluntary work for people unemployed for more than a year. The, new training for work programme operated by local enterprise companies, which began on 1 April, has the principal purpose of helping unemployed people to get jobs and is targeted on those unemployed for six months or more. This programme will be delivered in Glasgow by the Glasgow Development Agency, along with further measures announced on 16 March by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer which will give long-term unemployed people a new way to gain qualifications and provide more opportunities for those seeking to starr, their own business.
The rate of increase in long-term unemployment in Glasgow between January 1992 and January 1993 was less than a third of that for Great Britain as a whole. The measures which I have described will further improve performance in responding to the needs of the unemployed.