HC Deb 03 July 1998 vol 315 cc295-7W
Dr. Kumar

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the local authorities participating in the New Deal programme for 18 to 24-year-olds. [46556]

Mr. Andrew Smith

All local authorities were invited to participate in the planning stages of New Deal. Subsequently many have become key partners in the local partnerships which have been brought together across the country to ensure that the New Deal fully meets the needs of young people. Many of those who are not key partners are participating through other means, such as providing New Deal vacancies or being represented through one lead local authority.

Mr. John M. Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment on the basis of what formal competitive tendering process Capita won the implementing contract for the pilot New Deal scheme in Solihull; what was the role or task description defined for which bidders were to offer their services; and if the bidders included within their tenders a quantified costing for which those services were offered. [46932]

Mr. Andrew Smith

The competition which resulted in a decision to award the contract to the Capita Group Plc to lead and deliver 18–24 New Deal in Solihull was fair and open. It was conducted by Employment Service officials in line with Treasury procurement principles.

In Solihull, as in the other areas where New Deal is to be led by a private sector company, bidders were asked to submit outline proposals for delivery which would be consistent with the requirements contained in the New Deal Design document for 18–24-year-olds. These bids were evaluated against pre-determined criteria covering quality and innovation. The funding arrangements were subsequently discussed with each of the successful bidders within the framework of the unit costs and anticipated client volumes for each delivery unit.

Mr. John M. Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if the role or task description for the pilot New Deal scheme in Solihull has been altered or re-defined since Capita won the implementing contract for it. [46933]

Mr. Andrew Smith

No. The New Deal Design document for 18–24-year-olds formed the specification against which all bidders were invited to respond to the competition to identify private sector organisations to lead the 18–24 New Deal. The overall design and specification of New Deal in Solihull has not changed in the period following the decision to award the contract to Capita.

Mr. Derek Foster

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the(a) number and (b) percentage of New Deal special personal advisers who are from ethnic minorities. [45138]

Mr. Andrew Smith

The Employment Service (ES) currently has some 2,000 New Deal Advisers.

ES collects data on the ethnic origin of its employees by pay bands (or grades) rather than by specific jobs such as advisers. The available data show that some 6 per cent. of ES staff in the relevant pay bands are from ethnic minorities. The ES therefore estimate that some 120 are likely to be from ethnic minorities. ES is undertaking a special exercise to obtain more precise data and I will ensure that this information is passed to my right hon. Friend once it is available.

Mr. Jim Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many personal advisers will be recruited to assist small and medium sized enterprises in recruiting under the New Deal; and how much will be allocated to the Employment Service in order to undertake the training of such advisers. [47757]

Mr. Andrew Smith

[holding answer 30 June 1998]: The New Deal personal adviser's primary role is to offer guidance and support to their unemployed clients throughout their time on New Deal. They will, however, monitor the progress of clients who are recruited by employers under the New Deal, and in so doing, offer both them and their employer assistance in relation to New Deal. There are as many as 1,500 Personal Advisers; whilst not recruited specifically to assist small and medium sized enterprises in recruiting under New Deal, all of them will be helping young people towards jobs and enhanced employability, including opportunities with small businesses.

In addition to Personal Advisers, the Employment Service vacancy taking teams advise and assist employers who wish to recruit under New Deal. These teams deal directly and regularly with small and medium enterprises advising them about New Deal and help them in signing up for it. The total amount allocated to the Employment Service for training its staff for the New Deal was £9 million. This includes the commitment for all New Deal advisers to work towards S/NVQ Level 3 in advice, guidance and counselling. The allocation was not broken down into specific areas of work.