HC Deb 24 March 1998 vol 309 cc126-7W
Mr. Hoyle

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what role the CBI and trade unions have played in the New Deal. [33950]

Mr. Andrew Smith

Effective local partnerships are essential to the success of the New Deal. Employers and trades unions clearly have an important part to play. The CBI and the TUC have encouraged their members to be involved fully in local New Deal arrangements.

In addition, my officials and I have held regular meetings with the CBI and trades unions. The New Deal Task Force itself contains two members of the Executive Council of the TUC and Sir Peter Davis, the Chairman of the Task Force, has also recently met John Monks. Sir Peter Davis and other members of the Task Force are members of the CBI President's Council.

The CBI, TUC and individual trades unions have expressed support for the New Deal and have made a valuable contribution to its development.

Mrs. Lait

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is his estimate of the number of people in the Beckenham constituency who will be eligible for the New Deal. [34718]

Mr. Andrew Smith

I have placed in the Library a list of the client planning assumptions for each New Deal unit of delivery which the Employment Service is using to plan provision for young unemployed people aged 18–24. The table shows that the planning assumption for the Croydon and Bromley unit of delivery, which includes the Beckenham constituency, is that 2,619 young people could be eligible to join the New Deal in 1998–99.

Mr. Willetts

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will place in the Library a copy of the KPMG study of partnerships on Pathfinder areas for the New Deal. [36089]

Mr. Andrew Smith

I have placed in the Library a copy of the KPMG Report.

Mr. Willetts

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he will publish his response to the New Deal Task Force's, proposals on objectives for the New Deal. [36090]

Mr. Andrew Smith

Within the next two weeks, I will place a copy of my response in the Library.