HC Deb 06 May 1999 vol 330 cc436-7W
Mr. Stunell

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many New Deal trainees were in post on the Environment Task Force in each region of the United Kingdom at the most recent date for which figures are available. [83149]

Mr. Andrew Smith

The information set out in the following table shows the number of young people who were on the New Deal Environment Task Force option at the end of February 1999. The figures have been drawn from the latest Government Statistical Service report and are shown by each of the Employment Service Regions in Great Britain.

ES region Participants on ETF option
East Midlands and Eastern 510
London and South East 980
Northern 610
North West 1,080
South West 330
West Midlands 540
Yorkshire and the Humber 960
Office for Wales 730
Office for Scotland 840
Great Britain total 6,590

Note

Regional figures are rounded and do not, therefore, sum to the total

Mr. Stunell

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to increase Environment Task Force placements under the New Deal. [83148]

Mr. Andrew Smith

The Employment Service continues to work closely with its partners and Environment Task Force providers in each of its Regions to build up new placements and maintain current placements for the Environment Task Force option. The Employment Service has no evidence that an increased number of placements is required over and above those already contracted for.