The 1997 revised estimate for unemployment payments provides for an average live register of 255,000. The total money provision for unemployment payments in the Revised Estimates volume is £960.7 million. This covers payments to all persons on the live register and to certain other unemployed categories of persons such as smallholders and short-time workers. It also covers the cost of the significant improvement in payment rates provided for in this year's budget.
The indications at this early stage are that the provisions made for unemployment payments are adequate. Latest expenditure returns and the live register figures at the end of March are both in line with expectations. The downward trend in the live register, for which this Government is responsible, is continuing and the indications are that it will be maintained. For example, preliminary statistics for April show that there has so far been a further 4,000 drop in the number of people on the live register.
This is due to a combination of factors. First, the ongoing strong growth in the economy which is enhancing job creation, is being translated into reductions in the live register. Second, the transformation of the social welfare system which supports people moving from unemployment into employment and the range of other work supportive programmes and measures which have been introduced have encouraged and motivated the unemployed to return to the active labour force. Finally the intensive and comprehensive programme of measures which I have put in place to reduce the level of fraud and abuse in the system is having a significant effect.
A number of specific positive measures were announced in this year's budget designed to encourage the unemployed to get back to work. These include an increase of 5,000 — to a maximum of 22,000 — in the number who can participate in the back to work allowance scheme and the provision of an additional 3,500 places on community employment projects for unemployed people. Since last August the number of participants in the back to work allowance scheme has increased by 4,000 to just over 17,000 at present.
I have a team of 30 jobs facilitators in place in my Department's ten regions and they are responsible for ensuring that the unemployed and employers are fully aware of the Department's pro-employment, educational and training programmes at local level. They also have a significant part to play in assessing the needs of the unemployed, supporting them in seeking job opportunities, informing and directing them towards the wide range of existing initiatives and options provided by various Government Departments, agencies, voluntary bodies and community groups.
The programme of measures I introduced to tackle fraud and abuse in the unemployment payment system has contributed to the significant drop of over 25,000 in numbers of people on the live register. Features of this comprehensive programme include a claims review exercise under which the continuing entitlement of all customers in receipt of a payment is being examined, a review of entitlement after six months duration on the live register, the youth progression measures introduced in last year's budget and an enhanced publicity campaign which is currently under way to promote and encourage registrants to avail of the variety of work supports available.
I am fully confident that the existing measures to help unemployed people get back to work together with the excellent job creation prospects which currently prevail will result in an average live register of 255,000 being achieved for 1997.