§ Earl Russellasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will consider allowing nurses on Project 2000, who are ineligible for housing benefit and family benefit, to benefit from the New Deal. [HL2050]
§ The Minister of State, Department for Education and Employment (Baroness Blackstone)Both the New Deal for 18–24 year-olds and the New Deal for people aged 25 and over offer opportunities for people in receipt of Jobseeker's Allowance to study full-time for a maximum of 12 months. Project 2000 is a three-year full-time nursing course and participants receive a bursary award. They receive a higher rate of maintenance grant than other students in higher education which is not means tested and which this Government have increased this year. People joining Project 2000 will therefore become full-time students for the duration of their course, in receipt of the appropriate award, and will neither need nor be eligible for support from the New Deal.