HC Deb 16 February 1998 vol 306 cc519-20W
Mr. Rowe

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he plans to extend the New Deal to the older unemployed. [29295]

Mr. Andrew Smith

We will be introducing the New Deal for those aged 25 and over, and unemployed for two years or more, in June. As we announced on 5 January, we have been considering a number of options for extending provision for those aged 25 or more who have been unemployed for 1 year or 18 months, and whether pilots could be introduced later this year.

Mr. Rowe

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the per capita funding for those unemployed who(a) are and (b) are not included in the New Deal. [29294]

Mr. Andrew Smith

Employment measures are not based on overall per capita cost. They offer a wide range of opportunities based on length of unemployment and individual need. Someone unemployed for over six months, for example, could attend a Jobclub at an average cost of £200 or undertake work based training for adults at an average cost of £2,510, including allowances. Similarly, the New Deal for 18–24 year olds could help one young person to find work during the Gateway at a cost of less than £100 to New Deal funds, and another to improve employability and then find work at a cost of over £5,000 to New Deal funds. The New Deal is in general resourced to make a real difference to the employability of young people and to contribute to reducing structural unemployment.