§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the timetable for extending the Government's new deal for lone parents to the west midlands. [15478]
§ Mr. Keith BradleyPhase 1 of the New Deal for Lone Parents is already available in parts of the West Midlands, offering a comprehensive package of back-to-work help for lone parents—including advice with jobsearch, training, childcare and benefits. In the West Midlands the New Deal for Lone Parents is available in Atherstone, Bedworth, Halesowen, Dudley, Kenilworth, Kidderminster, Leamington Spa, Nuneaton, Rugby, Stourbridge, Stourport on Severn and Stratford on Avon.
The New Deal for Lone Parents will be extended to all remaining parts of the West Midlands when it is rolled out across the country from October 1998.
§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what investment is being made to ensure that there are satisfactory levels of child care support under the new deal for lone parents. [15479]
§ Mr. Keith BradleyThe Government recognise the importance of good quality affordable child care for all working parents, particularly for lone parents who have to cope with bringing up children alone. That is why, when we launched the New Deal for Lone Parents in July this year, additional funds were made available to meet the child care expenses of lone parents who are undertaking jobsearch activities.
New Deal advisers can offer up to £60 per week to each lone parent to help them pay for child care while they attend job interviews or training. New Deal advisers also have access to information on local child care services so that they can help lone parents find the most suitable child care for their children while they are at work.
634WThe first phase of the Government's New Deal for Lone Parents, operating in eight areas, has allocated £314,000 for child care during jobsearch in the current financial year 1997–98. Half of this sum has been put aside for these items for the remainder of the first phase, from 1 April to 30 September 1998. For the national programme, estimated costs being used for planning purposes are in the region of £2.5 million for child care during jobsearch for 1998–99, with increased sums for following years. In addition a further £50 million during the lifetime of the Parliament will be set aside to extend help with child care costs through the in-work benefits.
Lone parents in phase one of the New Deal for Lone Parents—including in the West Midlands—are already benefiting from this measure.