§ Mr. WatersonTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations the voluntary sector have made to his Department concerning the aims of the New Deal programme since the publication of the NCVO/NACVS information pack. [32887]
§ Mr. Andrew SmithWe have carried out a wide range of consultations with the voluntary sector to encourage them to contribute to the New Deal, and have worked with NCVO and NACVS as part of this process. We are very grateful to both organisations for providing an information pack to enhance that effort. The process of consultation continues, and Ministers and officials are continuing to meet with representatives of the voluntary sector to discuss their potential involvement in New Deal. Given the wide scope of contact, it is not possible to identify specific representations in response to the information pack, but we welcome any feedback-positive or negative-that the voluntary sector may have.