LONG-TERM UNEMPLOYED

That this House recognises the challenges of ensuring that the long-term unemployed participate in society; remembers with fondness the community programme as a scheme which enabled people to contribute to society and fulfil useful functions whilst improving their living standards and getting experience of work; is concerned as to what the effect on unemployed households may be after one year of unemployment; and calls for the Government to consider implementing a scheme whereby the non-statutory sector can employ the long-term unemployed for socially useful projects whilst they retain their benefits, but pay a large proportion of their earnings to the Exchequer, thereby ensuring they are able to contribute to society, improve their standard of living, develop additional skills, mitigate the effects of any reduction in housing benefit and avoid being trapped in poverty.