§ Mr. ChopeTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is his estimate of the number of people in the Christchurch constituency who will be eligible for the New Deal in April. [32698]
§ Mr. Andrew Smith[holding answer 4 March 1998]: In January 1998 twenty seven 18–24 year olds were recorded as having claimed Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) for six months or more in Christchurch. The New Deal for 18–24 year olds will benefit all young people who have been claimant unemployed for six months or more and remain unemployed, and all those who reach six months' claimant unemployment.
I have placed in the Library a list showing the indicative planning assumptions for participation in the New Deal for 18–24 year olds in 1998–99 in each local unit of delivery. These planning assumptions are based on current unemployment levels. They are not forecasts of the actual numbers who will participate in the New Deal for 18–24 year olds.
The planning assumption for the Dorset unit of delivery, which includes Christchurch, is that some 2,400 18–24 year olds may be eligible for the New Deal in 1998–99.