§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what assessment he has made of the arrangements for encouraging women to take up subsidised work under the New Deal; [63716]
(2) what assessment he has made of the factors which make women more likely to be transferred to other benefits while on the New Deal than men; [63715]
(3) what steps he has taken to encourage more women to join the New Deal. [63714]
§ Mr. Andrew Smith[holding answer 16 December 1998]: All young people who have been unemployed and claiming Jobseekers Allowance for six months or more, are eligible for New Deal whether they are men or women. During the Gateway all participants are equally encouraged to look for unsubsidised work or take up one of the New Deal options, including subsidised work or take up one of the New Deal options, including subsidised employment. The reasons for transfer to other benefits, including differences in transfer rates between men and women, are being examined as part of the New Deal evaluation.
The latest Government Statistical Service data for end of September show that of the 167,400 young people who start new Deal 43,700 (26 per cent.) were female.