§ Mrs. GillanTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people are eligible in Chesham and Amersham for the New Deal. [39893]
§ Mr. Andrew SmithI have placed in the Library a list of the client planning assumptions for each New Deal unit of delivery which the Employment Service is using to plan provision for young unemployed people aged 18–24.
25WThe table shows that the planning assumption for the Slough unit of delivery, which includes the Chesham and Amersham constituency, is that 1,042 young people could be eligible to join the New Deal in 1998–99.
§ Mrs. GillanTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many companies in Chesham and Amersham have signed up for the New Deal. [39904]
§ Mr. Andrew SmithSince the national launch of New Deal for 18–24 year olds on 6 April, three companies in the Chesham and Amersham constituency have signed formal agreements for the employment option. There has been positive interest from other employers in the area who are expected to sign up for New Deal shortly.
Young unemployed people in the constituency will also have New Deal employment opportunities through local branches of companies which have signed up to New Deal at the national level and also through vacancies notified at the local Jobcentres. Ten employers have currently signed Employers Agreements at Aylesbury Jobcentre and 14 at High Wycombe Jobcentre. Across the Slough unit of delivery, which includes the hon. Member's constituency, 65 firms have signed up.