New Deal (Hansard, 2 March 1998)

§ Mr. Rowe
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proportion of young people within the Gateway period for the New Deal have criminal records. [29296]

§ Mr. Andrew Smith
Each New Deal programme is designed to offer help to all those who become eligible. The claimant unemployment statistics do not provide information on previous criminal records.

§ Mr. Willetts
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what percentage of(a) young unemployed and (b) long-term unemployed participants in the New Deal are expected to lack basic literacy and numeracy skills. [30487]

§ Mr. Andrew Smith
The Adult Literacy in Britain Survey, published last year, suggested that around a third of unemployed people have serious difficulty with literacy and numeracy. The claimant unemployment statistics do not provide information on the literacy or numeracy skills of claimants. All participants on the New Deal for 18–24 year olds will have access to help to enhance basic skills if they need it. The New deal for long term unemployed people aged 25 or over will focus on helping people who have been unemployed for two years or more to find work. The programme also contains provision for people to enhance their skills to help their return to work, which may include help with basic skills.

§ Mr. Willetts
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much expenditure on the New Deal for(a) young and (b) long-term unemployed people in 1998–99 is expected to be directed to raising basic literacy and numeracy skills; and how many participants are expected to benefit from such assistance, at what average cost per participant. [30488]

§ Mr. Andrew Smith
Help to raise basic skills will be available to young people on the New Deal for 18–24 year olds during the Gateway and in each of the options, according to individual circumstances and needs. Help to enhance basic skills will be available to every New Deal participant who needs it, as we intend to tailor provision to meet individual needs. We do not have numerical targets for the numbers who will benefit from basic skills related provision.
The New Deal for long term unemployed people aged 25 or over will focus on helping people who have been unemployed for two years or more to find work. The programme also contains provision for people to enhance their skills to help their return to work. This may include help with basic skills.

§ Mr. Willetts
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if(a) jobmatch and (b) jobfinders grant will continue within the framework of New Deal. [30492]

§ Mr. Andrew Smith
Since April 1997, the jobmatch programme has been available to 18–24 year olds who have been unemployed for two years or more. Within the New Deal for 18–24 year olds, jobmatch will be available during the Gateway to help young people who have been478W unemployed for one year or more move into the employment option. In addition, local New Deal partnerships will be able if they choose to provide jobmatch opportunities through the New Deal follow-through strategies for young people who, having completed New Deal options, continue to need additional help to find work.
Jobfinder's grants will continue to be available to those aged 25 and over who have been unemployed for two years or more. Each local New Deal partnership has the discretion to provide grants to very long-term unemployed people aged 18–24.

§ Mr. Touhig
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what opportunities will be available for young unemployed people to take up work in the voluntary sector as part of the New Deal. [30370]

§ Mr. Andrew Smith
I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Kettering (Mr. Sawford) on 22 December 1997,Official Report, column 507. Young people are already being helped to take up work in the voluntary sector in the New Deal Pathfinder areas. Examples of work that participants are currently doing include working at a local Citizens Advice Bureau in Swansea; working in a local charity shop in Cornwall; working on a Prince's Trust Volunteers' project in Lambeth; and conservation work in Tayside with the Scottish Wildlife Trust. All are receiving training towards approved qualifications.

§ Mr. Laurence Robertson
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the cost to the Government of the New Deal advertisements(a) on television and (b) in other media. [31395]

§ Mr. Andrew Smith
From the start of the advertising in mid February until June, it is planned to spend: £5 million on TV advertising; £500,000 on national press advertising; £340,000 on local radio; and £100,000 on local press advertising in June.