§ Mr. HealdTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of the 773W New Deal starts in his Department and its agencies have resulted in sustained, unsubsidised employment; and if he will make a statement. [85970]
§ Mr. Nicholas Brown[holding answer 9 December 2002]: This information is not available for all of the Department and its agencies. However, in the former Employment Service and Jobcentre Plus1, up to October 2002, 825 people have been taken on under the New Deal for Young People and New Deal 25 plus. 302 (37 per cent.) of these people have gained permanent employment with Jobcentre Plus and 98 (12 per cent.) have left to take up employment elsewhere. A further 200 (24 per cent.) people are still employed in Jobcentre Plus on the New Deal programme.
1 Jobcentre Plus was launched in April 2002. The Employment Service and Benefits Agency ceased to exist at the same time.
§ Mr. HealdTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many persons received new deal photocards between May 1998 and October 2002; how many new deal participants were eligible to receive such cards during this period; what assessment he has made of the reasons for the difference in these figures; and if he will make a statement. [85973]
§ Mr. Nicholas Brown[holding answer 9 December 2002]: On 6 November, 2002 we announced the extension of half price rail fares to up to 125,000 more people on three additional new deal programmes, making it cheaper for them to get to job interviews and cheaper to get to work in the first few months of employment.
The new deal reduced rail fare scheme has been in existence in England and Wales since May 1998 and, to the end of August 20021, Jobcentre Plus has issued 127,254 photocards. During the period 24 May 1998 to 31 August 2002, a total of 1,038,623 new deal participants were eligible to use the card.
The reduced rail fare scheme is brought to the attention of all new deal participants at the initial interview with their personal adviser. Where transport is not considered to be a barrier to the client finding work or training, they may not take up the offer. Jobcentre Plus is currently working to further increase awareness of the scheme through targeted publicity, and expect to see a marked increase in take-up as a result.
1Latest available figures.
§ Mr. HealdTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many of those leaving the new deal for the long-term unemployed left the new deal for unsubsidised sustained jobs; and how many did not return to claim jobseeker's allowance within(a) 26 weeks and (b) one year. [85971]
§ Mr. Nicholas Brown[holding answer 9 December 2002 ]: Up to the end of September 2002, 80,640 new deal 25 plus leavers had gained unsubsidised sustained jobs. Of these, 64,780 did not return to claim jobseeker's allowance within 26 weeks, and 57,090 had not reclaimed the benefit within one year after leaving the new deal.
Source:
New Deal Evaluation Database
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