Smith: "cannot allow talents to go to waste"

Government Announces Boost for Long-term Jobless

The Minister for Education and Employment, Andrew Smith, said he was "refocusing" Project Work, which was launched by the Conservative government last year in an attempt to offer proper training and effective subsidies.

Mr Smith detailed the proposals in a written answer in the House of Commmons. Employers who take on someone out of work for over two years may receive £60 a week for those aged 18-24 and £75 a week for those aged between 25 and 50.

The annoucement sees a modest rise in the subsidies granted to employers for taking on the long-term jobless. Under the present system employers are given £250 a month for a maximum of six months. In addition all Project Work pilots will also in include intensive help with basic skills for those who need it.

The scheme aims to help people aged 18-50, who have been out of work for two years or more, to make the move back into employment through 13 weeks intensive help with jobsearch. Those who find work will be given access to the Workstart job subsidy.

Pilot schemes are currently operating across the country in Nottingham, Bristol, Bath, Weston super Mare, London, Derby, Hull, Medway and Maidstone, Bradford, Huddersfield, Norwich, Dundee, Stoke, Edinburgh, Swansea, Neath and Port Talbot, Merthyr and Rhymney.

Mr Smith said, "We cannot allow the talents and energy of our citizens to go to waste, untapped and untrained in unemployment. It makes both moral and economic sense to offer a chance of a future to those who have almost given up hope."

The scheme is set to run to the end of the financial year, before Labour introduces its so called "New Deal" package to help the young and long term unemployed off welfare and into work or training.