HC Deb 08 February 2001 vol 362 cc690-1W
24. Mrs. Ellman

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the impact of the New Deal in Liverpool. [147931]

Ms Jowell

At the end of November 2000, 12,680 young people in Liverpool had started the New Deal programme. In Liverpool, the programme has helped 5,350 young people move from benefit into work, through the commitment of over 1,400 employers. We know that many more young people will have left the New Deal for jobs without telling the Employment Service: they are not included in these figures.

In Liverpool the falls in unemployment among the New Deal for Young People client group have also been substantially faster than for other groups. In Liverpool, since April 1998, claimant unemployment among those aged 18–24, unemployed for six months or more, has fallen by 70 per cent. from 3,232 to 952. This compares with a fall of 25 per cent. in total unemployment, 33 per cent. in total youth (18–24) unemployment, and 38 per cent. in the total number unemployed for six months or more.

Other New Deals are also showing encouraging results. For example, 6,944 people had entered New Deal 25+ at November 2000, with 1,243 having found employment. To the end of October, 2,718 people had participated in New Deal for Lone Parents with 853 moving into employment.