§ Mr. GaleTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how many eligible participants have to date registered interest in the New Deal within the Thanet travel-to-work area; [44472]
(2) how many eligible participants are currently undergoing Gateway preparation for the New Deal within the Thanet travel-to-work area to date; [44473]
450W(3) how many eligible participants have within the Thanet travel-to-work area currently obtained New Deal placements with (a) the private and (b) the public sector. [44474]
§ Mr. Andrew SmithNew Deal was launched nationally on 6 April and it is of course early days for this ambitious undertaking. I am encouraged by the start in the Canterbury Unit of Delivery which includes the Thanet travel-to-work area. 223 young people have attended their initial New Deal interview and of these 115 have requested early entry. 62 clients are currently participating in the Gateway process and 26 have found work in the Private Sector.
§ Mr. GaleTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many(a) private and (b) public sector employers have expressed interest within the Thanet travel-to-work area in offering New Deal placements; and if he will list them. [44475]
§ Mr. Andrew SmithWithin the Employment Service Canterbury District, which forms the major part of the Thanet travel-to-work area, 71 employers have so far signed formal agreements to enable them to offer jobs under the New Deal employer option to young unemployed people.
Of these, 68 employers are from the private sector and three are from the public sector. I have asked the local Employment Service District Manager to supply the list of employers.