§ Mrs. EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much has been spent on the New Deal programme to get 18 to 25 year olds back to work in the year 1997–98; and what are the estimated costs for(a) 1998–99 and (b) 1999–2000. [48510]
§ Mr. WilsonThe provisional amount spent on the New Deal for young people (18–24 year olds) in Scotland for 1997–98 is £1.5 million. A final figure will be available by the end of August. The New Deal is financed from the receipts of the Windfall Tax on the privatised utilities. Expenditure is planned over the duration of the Parliament and unspent resources in any single year are available for spending on the New Deal in future years.
The estimated cost for 1998–99 is £59 million and for 1999–2000 is £67 million. The New Deal is demand led and actual provision for any particular year will be decided in the light of the level of unemployment and experience gained in running the New Deal.