§ 15. Mr. RowlandsTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the future development of the New Deal in Wales. [61573]
§ Mr. HainThe New Deal is progressively being extended to help more people who want to find work. At the beginning of November, measures were introduced to help Disabled People and the New Deal for Lone Parents was extended from the pilot area to cover the whole of Wales. Last week we saw the introduction of pilots in West Wales and Bridgend/Rhondda Cynon Taff which brought the New Deal for Over 25s within the range of those who have been unemployed for 12 and 18 months respectively.