New Deal

HC Deb 18 March 1998 vol 308 cc655-6W

Mr. Gareth Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the progress of the New Deal in Wales. [33441]

Mr. Hain

I am delighted to say that we have made good and rapid progress in implementing the New Deal for young people in the South-West Pathfinder area.

To date, well over 2,000 interviews with unemployed young people have been completed and almost 1,200 jobs pledged by more than 250 employers. A further 400 employers are expected to sign-up in the next three months.

This represents an excellent start to our crusade to bring hope to young people and one which we will build on when the New Deal is launched throughout Wales in April.