§ Mr. BurnsTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to her answer of 19 March 1998,Official Report, columns 738–39, how many lone parents who gained employment between: (a) 1 July and 22 October 1997, (b) 23 October and 30 November 1997, (c) 1 December and 31 December 1997, (d) 1 January and 31 January 1998 and (e) 1 February and 28 February 1998, are now in receipt of income support and have no earnings. [37592]
605W
§ Mr. Keith Bradley[holding answer 7 April 1998]
The number of lone parents who obtained employment and who are now in receipt of income support and have no earnings Period Number of lone parents who obtained employment/increased hours Number of lone parents who obtained employment/increased hours, but who are now in receipt of Income Support and have no earnings 21 July-22 October 1997 518 87 23 October— 30 November 1997 391 69 1 December— 31 December 1997 141 20 1 January— 31 January 1998 228 23 1 February— 28 February 1998 240 28 The Government are conducting a full independent evaluation of the New Deal for Lone Parents which will report in Autumn 1999. This will assess the programme's overall effectiveness, and will measure the percentage of lone parents moving into work as a result of the New Deal for Lone Parents.
Notes
1. Figures are given from the 21 July rather than 1 July as this was when the first prototype of the New Deal for Lone Parents started.
2. The figures given for the number of lone parents who have found employment include those lone parents who have increased their hours whilst participating in the New Deal for Lone Parents.
3. The figures in the third column differ slightly from those in my Written Answer 7 April 1998, Official Report, columns 738–739, which sought similar information for the periods of 23 October-30 November 1997, 1–31 December 1997, and 1-31 January 1998. This is because the figures given in this reply represents information as of 17 April 1998 and not as of 18 March 1998.