§ Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknishasked Her Majesty's Government:
What estimates they have made of the likely costs to Scottish local authorities of the Government's "Welfare to Work" scheme; and, if there are costs, what steps they propose to take to reimburse local authorities. [HL266]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Scottish Office (Lord Sewel):No such cost estimates have been made. Where local authorities are involved in the New Deal programme, it is expected that their costs will be included in their contracting proposals.