§ Mr. AlexanderTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to help unemployed people over the age of 25 to find employment. [143610]
§ Ms JowellTackling unemployment among the 25 plus age group is a key priority for this Government, and we are already making significant inroads: two year plus unemployment among those aged 25 and over is down over 60 per cent. since May 1997.
From April 2001 we are putting in place an even more intensive range of support for adult unemployed people, which will begin on the first day of registered unemployment and increase in intensity in proportion to the individual's labour market disadvantage. This help includes supported jobsearch, training for people with serious basic skills needs and those lacking soft skills, occupational work based training and work trials with employers. An enhanced New Deal 25 plus will provide high quality intensive help for people unemployed for 18 months or more. In addition, other New Deal programmes continue to address the employment needs of other groups, including lone parents, disabled people, partners of unemployed people and people aged 50 and over.