§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many people have registered for the New Deal at each social security office in South Down since its introduction; and of these how many were unemployed and in receipt of jobseeker's allowance or income support; [75227]
(2) how many people who registered for the New Deal at each social security office in South Down have obtained full-time employment. [75228]
§ Mr. IngramResponsibility for the matter has been delegated to the Training and Employment Agency under its chief executive, Mr. Ian Walters. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Ian Walters to Mr. Eddie McGrady, dated 10 March 1999:
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me as Chief Executive of the Training and Employment Agency (T&EA) to reply to your questions about New Deal in South Down as most New Deal registrations are taken at T&EA JobCentres. Social Security Offices take registrations for the New Deal for Lone Parents only.The information you asked for is set out in the following table.
Jobcentre Number of New Deal registrations Number obtaining employment at 7 March 1999 Ballynahinch 138 30 Downpatrick 304 61 Kilkeel 111 25 Newcastle 195 39 Total 748 155
Information is not currently available on how many of these 155 jobs are full-time.386WThe majority of those who have registered remain within the Gateway stage of New Deal. The number of people moving into employment will of course rise as New Deal participants leave Gateway.All clients who registered for the New Deals for Young People aged 18–24 and for those aged over 25 were unemployed and in receipt of Jobseekers Allowance at the time of registration. Those registering for the New Deal for Lone Parents were unemployed and in receipt of Income Support.I hope this reply is helpful.