§ 20. Jane GriffithsTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his proposals on reducing unemployment. [3343]
§ Ruth KellyIn order to achieve the Government's goal of employment opportunity for all we will be extending the principles behind the New Deal for Young People to a much wider group who face problems in finding work.
By building upon the success of the New Deal for Young People, which has placed almost 300,000 18 to 24-year-olds into work, we now aim to tackle unemployment among three of the most disadvantaged groups: the long-term unemployed, through the improved New Deal 25 plus; lone parents, through the enhanced programme of choices available through the New Deal for Lone Parents; and disabled people through the nationally extended New Deal for Disabled People.
§ 26. Siobhain McDonaghTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of recent measures designed to reduce youth and long-term unemployment. [3349]
§ Ruth KellyThrough the New Deal for Young People we have helped nearly 300,000 young unemployed people find jobs, and in addition over 70,000 long-term unemployed people have been helped to move from welfare into work through the New Deal for Long-Term Unemployed.
Independent evaluation of the New Deal for Young People has shown that over 200,000 young people left unemployment earlier than they would have done without the programme, with 60,000 entering into employment.
The New Deal helps the young and long-term unemployed to secure jobs as the most effective way of enhancing their incomes, increasing their skills and securing their future economic independence.