The Forgotten Million Unemployed

In July 1985 the National Council for Voluntary Organisations launched a campaign for “action for the forgotten million”— the four out of every five long‐term unemployed people who receive no practical support from the public services, apart from their benefits. The author of the National Council discussion document outlines some of the major issues which will need to be faced. In particular, he argues that public debate tends to concentrate too narrowly on specific initiatives and individual programmes. Instead, there is a need to consider the rights of all long‐term unemployed people, and the needs of the group as a whole.