§ Mrs. GormanTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if there will be any increase in staffing levels at the Employment Service to implement (i) The New Deal and (ii) The Gateway. [8203]
§ Mr. Alan HowarthResponsibility for the subject of the questions has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its Chief Executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
305WLetter from Leigh Lewis to Mrs. Teresa Gorman, dated 17 July 1997:
The Secretary of State has asked me to respond to your question about staffing levels in the Employment Service as a result of implementing the New Deal. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency. This reply refers to the New Deal including the "Gateway" process for young people which we see as an integral part of the New Deal programme rather than as a separate entity.For the New Deal to operate successfully it is clear that there will need to be additional staff in Jobcentres to support each of the elements and options of the programme. We are in the process of assessing how these activities will be delivered together with their associated staffing requirements. The net impact on staffing in Jobcentres will need to take into account other factors such as changing levels of unemployment.I hope this is helpful.