§ Mr. StinchcombeTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on his Department's proposals to tackle unemployment(a) in the age groups (i) 25 to 35 and (ii) 16 to 18 years and (b) amongst the short-term youth unemployed. [26765]
§ Mr. Andrew SmithEmployment opportunity for all means providing people with the knowledge and skills to find work. That is why this Government are investing in education and skills, so that people can start off their working life with the basic skills required for a lifetime of work, and can learn through life, remaining employable as the labour market changes.
In order to improve the employment prospects of 16–18 year olds, we want to encourage as many as possible to stay on in education and training to gain the skills and qualifications which will equip them for the world of work. Our Investing in Young People strategy will achieve this, through a range of measures in schools, colleges and in work-based training. Action is also being taken through New Start to tackle disaffection among young people at the transitional school to work stage and to improve participation in learning.
We will continue to attach great importance to improving the quality of work based training for young people. 16–18 year olds will have priority for training opportunities, including Modern Apprenticeships and the National Traineeships.
The New Deal for young people targets help on people aged 18–24 who have been unemployed and claiming Jobseekers" Allowance (JSA) for six months or more. However, some 18–24 year old JSA claimants who are, for a variety of reasons, likely to experience particular difficulty in finding work will be able to choose to join the New Deal early (i.e. before reaching six months" unemployment).
We have announced our intention to develop pilots to extend the New Deal for those aged 25 and over, unemployed between 1 and 2 years. Fuller details will be announced when we have worked up proposals.
We are also looking at practical and innovative approaches to the problem of long-term unemployment among the over 25s. This is why we are investing £33 million in prototype Employment Zones in Plymouth, Liverpool, South Teesside, Glasgow and North West Wales. By making current sources of help and funding more coherent, Employment Zones will benefit long-term unemployed people and their communities.