HC Deb 11 March 1998 vol 308 c225W
Mr. Reed

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the maximum age for entry to the New Deal will be. [30998]

Mr. Andrew Smith

The New Deal for 18–24 year olds will be open only to those in that age bracket. The New Deal for lone parents is available to all eligible people in receipt of income support regardless of age. The New Deal for people with a disability or long-term illness is open to people up to retirement age. The same is true of the New Deal for adults over 25 who have been unemployed for two years or more. We are currently considering extending the New Deal approach to people over 25 who have been unemployed for shorter durations.