§ Mr. DavidTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment his Department has made of the(a) value of and (b) potential for the development of intermediate labour markets. [107494]
§ Mr. Nicholas BrownIntermediate Labour Markets work with disadvantaged people and seek to provide a supportive work environment, helping them to develop the skills needed to retain employment over time. They are widely used in the UK, including some funded by New Deal providers and Local Authorities.
The Department has commissioned research to assess the effectiveness of intermediate labour markets. Findings from this project are scheduled for publication later this year.
In addition, we are investing £40 million in StepUP, a transitional work programme that will provide a guaranteed job for up to 5,000 long-term unemployed people. Publication of the final report on StepUP is scheduled for April 2005.