§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people have(a) entered the New Deal Gateway and (b) taken up each New Deal option in the Portsmouth City Council area since the New Deal's inception. [62384]
§ Mr. Andrew SmithThe latest Government Statistical Service figures for clients in the Portsmouth Unit of Delivery show that to the end of September, 143 people had secured unsubsidised jobs.
1,094 young people had entered the Gateway and 217 had joined one of the four options. This breaks down to: 43 on the Employment option; 19 on the Voluntary Sector option; 8 on Environment Task Force; and 147 on the Full-Time Education and Training option.
I am encouraged by the positive start made in the Portsmouth Unit of Delivery, which reflects the encouraging start to the programme overall.