§ Mrs. EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment 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. [48509]
§ Mr. Andrew Smith[holding answer 6 July 1998]: The provisional amount spent on the New Deal for Young People (18 to 24 year olds) for 1997–98 is £36 million. The majority of this amount represents expenditure incurred centrally in supporting the early implementation of the New Deal. 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 Parliament as a whole 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 £594 million and for 1999–2000 £675 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.
The above figures are for Great Britain and reflect the cost of the New Deal for Young People to the Department for Education and Employment.