§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what financial allocation for administration of the New Deal in Wales each area office of the Employment Agency receives. [25313]
§ Mr. HainThe Employment Service agency is responsible for the administration of the New Deal for 18 to 24-year-olds in Wales and in the rest of Great Britain. The funding for the New Deal guarantees opportunities for all young people who are eligible to join the programme.
The precise level of funding to be made available to each Employment Service District will depend on take-up; it is not possible to be more precise at this stage.
§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his budget for the operation of the New Deal. [25312]
§ Mr. HainThe operational budget for the New Deal in Wales, as with all other parts of Great Britain, is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, and will be administered through the Employment Service agency.
However, we will ensure that the New Deal meets the needs of Wales. For this purpose we have established the Wales Advisory Task Force to advise on the development and operation of the programme throughout Wales.