HC Deb 20 April 1998 vol 310 cc439-40W
Mr. Barry Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to monitor the impact of the New Deal on young people with a history of delinquency. [38458]

Mr. Hain

The term "delinquency" is very broad and could legitimately be defined as including a range of anti-social behaviour, some of which could not be identified formally, for example through a criminal record.

As a key part of the evaluation of the New Deal, we will seek to relate the outcomes of the New Deal participants to their individual characteristics, circumstances and labour market history, and to assess the extent to which these outcomes might have occurred in the absence of the New Deal.

As part of this work, we shall be addressing the significance of a criminal record in employment and the success of the New Deal in overcoming barriers it may create.