HC Deb 18 March 2003 vol 401 cc717-8W
Mr. Brazier

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what organisations have been awarded the contract announced by the Department of Work and Pensions in July 2002 to narrow the 17 per cent. gap between the overall employment rate and that of ethnic minority people; and what timescale has been set for delivering the contracts. [98017]

Mr. Nicholas Brown

The Minority Ethnic Outreach initiative is part of our strategy to tackle the gap between the overall employment rate and the minority ethnic employment rate. Introduced in April 2002, the initiative aims to strengthen the support available to minority ethnic jobless people within five areas of the country with large minority ethnic populations. 45 organisations (through a total of 51 contracts) are contracted to deliver the service until the end of March 2004. The organisations are as follows:

Greater London providers

  • GoldenStool Communications
  • The Training Network (Five different projects in different areas of London)
  • Pro-Diverse (UK) Ltd.
  • Talent
  • Reed in Partnership
  • Breakfree—RPS Rainer
  • Employment Cafe
  • Ergon Enosis (Two different projects in different areas of London)
  • SELTO
  • Shaw Trust
  • In-volve
  • New Beginnings
  • London Action Trust (Crossroads project for Lewisham)
  • London Action Trust (Asset for Lambeth)
  • Tomorrow's People Trust

East Midlands providers

  • Age Concern Training
  • Belgrave Development and Enterprise
  • Business2Business

Ex-DSS spend on external consultancy and professional services
Tax year Benefits Agency Child Support Agency Contributions Agency Corporate and ISBs ITSA War pensions Agency Total (£ million) Present value (£ million 2002–03 prices)
1995–96 19.23 1.71 2.82 3.77 89.00 0.22 116.81 139.92
1996–97 29.96 0.91 2.77 4.67 61.55 0.42 100.28 116.43
1997–98 28.62 0.82 2.65 4.91 47.86 0.38 85.24 96.00
1998–99 21.17 0.51 1.76 11.38 36.79 0.73 72.34 79.30
1999–2000 26.05 3.15 — 13.71 39.66 0.43 83.00 88.83
2000–01 11.44 18.06 — 74.75 — 0.48 104.73 109.66

Notes:

1. Contributions Agency transferred to Inland Revenue from April 1999

2. Information Technology Services Agency (ITSA) function moved to corporate centre from April 2000

Greater Manchester providers

  • Bolton Racial Equality Council
  • Bolton Metro's Ethnic Minorities Business Service
  • SITU Ltd.
  • Early Years and Play (Manchester Education Department)
  • North Area College
  • Moss-side and Hulme Community Development Trust
  • Family Housing Association (Manchester) Ltd.
  • Rochdale Racial Equality Council
  • The Oldham College

West Yorkshire providers

  • Bradford Cathedral Centre
  • Talent Resourcing
  • Kirklees Metropolitan Council
  • Indian Muslim Welfare Society
  • Halifax Opportunities Trust

West Midlands providers

  • Platinum Employment, Advice and Training
  • Coventry Solihull Warwickshire Partnership Ltd.
  • Steps to Work
  • Colleges in the Black Country (Two different projects in different areas of the West Midlands)
  • Birmingham Partnership for Change
  • Windrush Employment and Training Consortium Ltd.
  • SACDA
  • H & 0 Training
  • Lynton Marketing Ltd.
  • TLC College
  • UK Asian Women's Centre
  • Workable Ltd. (Initiative Ltd.)
  • Chinese Community Centre