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Job Release Scheme

Volume 25: debated on Wednesday 16 June 1982

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47.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what steps the Civil Service is taking to create further opportunities for young people under the job release scheme.

The aim of the job release scheme is to help all those on the: unemployed register, and not only the young unemployed. Individual Government Departments are encouraged to release eligible staff who wish to take advantage of this scheme, provided that they can comply with the scheme's requirements.

Is it not the case that regulations were changed early this year, making it more difficult for young people to take up jabs that are vacant as a result of people retiring early, mainly by insisting that the actual job left vacant by the retiring person must be the job taken up by a newcomer? Will the Minister look at the possibility that the Inland Revenue is not currently operating the scheme, and will he see whether he can introduce some flexibility, so as to get young people off the unemployment register?

I can confirm that from 1 April this year employers in the public sector must meet the same requirements as other employers, namely, that a replacement should come from the unemployment register or certain other groups, such as school leavers. I shall certainly look into the detailed comments made by the hon. Gentleman.