§ Mr. GaleTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proposals he has to include unemployed disabled people in employment and training programmes funded by the windfall tax; and if he will make a statement. [12016]
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§ Mr. Andrew SmithWe intend that unemployed disabled people will get the help they need to meet the aim of improving their skills, employability and job prospects. Ministers have already decided that disabled people claiming jobseeker's allowance will have early access to the opportunities for work, education and training provided by the new deal for young unemployed people. We will also encourage and enable those with disabilities or a long-standing illness to access training and work, to improve their employability and thereby reduce their dependency on long-term incapacity benefits. Some £200 million from the windfall levy has been set aside to fund this and other measures.