§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people have entered the New Deal Gateway in the Southampton City Council area since its inception; and how many took up each New Deal option. [63123]
§ Mr. Andrew SmithThe latest Government Statistical Service figures for clients in the Southampton and South-West Hampshire Unit of Delivery show that to the end of September 1998
(a) 751 young people had entered the Gateway and 97 have secured unsubsidised employment(b) 108 had joined one of the four options.This breaks down to: 29 on the Employment option; 7 on the Voluntary Sector option; 1 on Environment Task Force; and 71 on the Full-Time Education and Training option.I am encouraged by the positive start made in the Southampton and SW Hampshire Unit of Delivery, which reflects the encouraging start to the programme overall.