§ Mr. GorrieTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the number of places likely to be offered and the number of likely applicants for places in the New Deal and welfare to work programmes in each area within Scotland. [22253]
§ Mr. WilsonCurrent estimates suggest that in 1998–99 in Scotland around 30,200 young people who have been claiming Jobseeker's Allowance for six months or more will enter the Gateway stage of the programme. Of these around 40 per cent. are expected to find un-subsidised jobs and the remainder will take up one of the programme's four options. The table provides a breakdown into each of the 23 New Deal delivery areas in Scotland.
Planning for the New Deal for people aged 25 or over who have been unemployed for two years continues. The information required is not yet available.
678W
Estimate for 1998–99 of 18–24 year olds who have been claiming jobseekers allowance for six months or more New Deal delivery area Claiming JSA for six months or more Numbers entering gateway stage Numbers moving to one of the four New Deal options Argyll and the Islands 300 300 180 Ayrshire 2,660 2,660 1,596 Borders 290 290 174 Caithness and Sutherland 190 190 114 Dumfries and Galloway 760 760 456 Dunbartonshire 1,430 1,430 858 Edinburgh, East and Midlothian 2,860 2,860 1,716 Fife 2,180 2,180 1,308 Forth Valley 1,730 1,730 1,038 Glasgow 5,870 5,870 3,522 Grampian 1,240 1,240 744 Inverness and Nairn 420 420 252 Lanarkshire 4,200 4.200 2,520 Lochaber 90 90 54 Moray, Badenoch and Strathspey 370 370 222 Orkney 60 60 36 Renfrewshire 1,830 1,830 1,098 Ross and Cromarty 300 300 180 Shetland 60 60 36 Skye and Lochalsh 60 60 36 Tayside 2,431 2,431 1,459 West Lothian 730 730 438 Western Isles 150 150 90 Total 30,211 30,211 18,127