§ Mr. Nigel EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what policies have been introduced to bring down the jobless total in Lancashire since 1992. [13276]
§ Mr. ForthAs a result of sound macro-economic policies and a flexible deregulated labour market, unemployment has fallen over the last four years by over 1 million in the United Kingdom, and by nearly 24,000 in Lancashire.
In order to help unemployed people obtain the jobs economic growth is now delivering, a wide range of employment and training measures are available both nationally and in Lancashire. From February, a total of 31 project work pilots—one in Preston, Lancashire—will help up to 100,000 people. In addition, a new contract for work pilot initiative in Lancashire, starting in April, will explore ways in which the talents of the private sector might be used to help more very long-term unemployed people back to work.