§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many employers are involved in the New Deal for the (i) young unemployed and (ii) long-term unemployed; and if he will make a statement. [72031]
§ Mr. HainThe latest statistics produced by the Department for Education and Employment indicate that up to the end of December 1998, over 2,900 employers in Wales had signed up to provide subsidised jobs for the New Deal for 18–24 year olds or for the New Deal for the 25 plus.
I am very encouraged by these figures. From the outset we made it quite clear that the involvement of employers was crucial to the success of the New Deal in Wales. We have made an excellent start and I look forward to this continuing.