§ Mr. ChaytorTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on his plans to enable long-term unemployed adults over the age of 25 years to benefit from the New Deal. [37139]
§ Mr. Andrew SmithThe New Deal for adults who have been unemployed for two years or more will start in June this year and will offer the opportunity to take up a subsidised job or to study towards a work-related qualification whilst remaining on benefit. In addition, we are making available an extra £100 million to pilot an extension to the type of approach used in the New Deal for the young unemployed; up to 70,000 unemployed people of 25 and over from November this year will be eligible. These pilots will provide individually tailored help and support for adults in the pilot areas who have been unemployed for 18 months or more and, in some areas, for 12 months or more.