JOB-SEEKERS in the county are set to act as guinea pigs in a Government bid to improve their chances of finding permanent work.

People of working age claiming benefit in Buckinghamshire will be assigned a personal adviser to help them find jobs.

Three other areas around the country will be taking part in the pilot scheme, which starts in November this year.

Wycombe District Council's policy and resources committee agreed to take part in the scheme at a meeting on Monday.

Labour councillor Clare Martens said: "There are plenty of people who find themselves shut out of the job market and this is certainly something that should start to address the problem. It is an excellent scheme."

The personal assistant will discuss opportunities for and barriers to finding work with job-seekers after an initial series of interviews with welfare officers. Call centres in Buckinghamshire will deal with the initial interviews with welfare officers on the telephone.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.