§ 24. Mr. GapesTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what will be the nature of the help offered to unemployed people aged over 25 years in the pilot schemes announced in the Budget. [43780]
§ Mr. Andrew SmithThe New Deal pilots for unemployed people aged 25 and over will provide help and support for adults who have been unemployed for a year or more. The pilot provision will be individually tailored, and will give participants a range of help to get them back to work, including: a job with an employer supported by trial periods and an employment subsidy; job-related training; help into self-employment; and work in the voluntary sector. The Department is currently consulting widely on the details of the provision.
§ 28. Mr. Ben ChapmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on progress on the new deal in the pathfinder areas. [43784]
694W
§ Mr. Andrew SmithIt is, of course, early days for this ambitious undertaking, but I am encouraged by the progress in the New Deal Pathfinder areas which started on 5 January. 22,851 clients have been invited to initial Gateway interview.
Of those who have left the Gateway;
- 1,176 have started unsubsidised jobs;
- 1,501 have started subsidised jobs;
- 955 have started on the Full Time Education and Training Option;
- 258 have started on the Voluntary Sector;
- 241 have started on the Environment Task Force.
New Deal was launched nationally on 6 April and early results are equally encouraging.