§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people in the greater Portsmouth area are using the New Deal for Disabled People; and if he will make a statement. [124553]
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§ Mr. BayleyThe information requested is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is as follows.
Under the first tranche of innovative schemes set up through the New Deal for Disabled People, the greater Portsmouth area fell within the catchment area of the Gateway Partnership. This scheme was funded from October 1998 to January 2000 in order to improve the employability of disabled people within Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. The Gateway Partnership accepted 356 people into the scheme and 49 people started work.
Under the second tranche of innovative schemes, greater Portsmouth falls within the catchment area of the Prince's Trust, which assists disabled people to set up their own businesses within Hampshire, the Isle of Wight and Surrey. By the end of April 2000 the Prince's Trust had accepted 68 people onto the scheme and 12 people had started up self-employment.