§ Sir Ralph HowellTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the extra cost of North Norfolk Action over and above the benefits previously paid to participants and the overall saving from those who have left the unemployment register due to moving directly from North Norfolk Action to regular employment or from ceasing to claim benefit after interview for North Norfolk Action participation; and what was the overall saving made in the first six months.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythResponsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Sir Ralph Howell, dated 17 December 1993.
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your Question about the extra cost of North Norfolk Action and the overall saving from those who have left the unemployment register due to moving from North Norfolk Action to employment or ceasing to claim benefit.The extra cost of North Norfolk Action in addition to the cost of the benefit previously paid to participants up to 30 November 1993 is £167,300. The breakdown of how the expenditure was made up is as follows:
£ (a) Provider Fees 111,101 (b) Allowances £10 per week per participant 17,780 (c) Fares to work 3,436 (d) Publicity 1,500 (e) Running cost (including management of the programme contract and administration of the caseload element) 33,483 As I have previously explained, it is not possible to estimate the benefit savings made as a result of North Norfolk Action. This is because only through a proper evaluation exercise is it possible to take into account the effect of such factors as "deadweight" and "substitution". Evaluation results will be available later next year.I hope this is helpful.