§ Mrs. MayTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many of those people who have left the New Deal since its inception have obtained unsubsidised employment lasting for at least six months. [158844]
§ Ms Jowell[holding answer 26 April 2001]Over 279,000 young people had moved into work by the end of January 2001, 247,840 into unsubsidised jobs. We do not have figures for the length of time each of these jobs lasts but any job can offer considerable benefits to the participant through increased self-confidence and useful work experience. There is no doubt that New Deal is having a positive impact: independent research by the National Institute of Economic and Social Research concluded that without New Deal youth unemployment would be twice as high.