asked the Secretary of State for Employment what special steps to reduce unemployment in the North-West he has in view for the first six months of 1979.

The Government are concerned that full advantage be taken of the existing measures—TES, YOP, STEP, JRS, SFES and AES. To this end I urge employers, trade unions, local authorities and community groups to do all they can to increase the impact of these measures on unemployment in their areas.My right hon. Friend will be announcing in due course the programme of special employment measures which the Government will be introducing from 1 April.