asked the Minister for the Environment if he will consider the creation of a special task force designed to create additional employment in the short term, whose function would be to undertake a number of environmental improvement works in urban areas throughout the country.
Written Answers. - Employment Task Force.
358.
I recently announced proposals for the implementation of one of the youth employment schemes put forward by the employment action team to the Minister for Labour. A £4 million programme of environmental improvement schemes is being undertaken by local authorities which is expected to provide short-term employment equivalent to 1,000 jobs of one year's duration. In order to ensure that employment will be afforded to as many young people as possible, local authorities have been requested to recruit participants through the Manpower Service of the Department of Labour.
Local authorities have long experience in organising and carrying out works of environmental improvement and I see no necessity for the creation of a special task force.