§ Mr. BurnsTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to her answer of 7 April 1998,Official Report, column 224, on lone parents, if she will update that answer to cover the period 21 July 1997 to 31 March 1998. [40900]
§ Mr. Keith BradleyInformation on the operation of the New Deal for Lone Parents is available up to and including 31 March 1998.
As at 31 March 1998:
24,795 lone parents have been contacted, or have made contact with their personal advisers6,085 initial interviews have been arranged, and 5,178 lone parents have attended interviews4,637 lone parents have agreed to participate in the programme following initial interviews1,530 lone parents have found jobs following agreement to participate in the programme. A full independent evaluation of the New Deal for Lone Parents is being undertaken, to report in Autumn 1999. This will assess the overall effectiveness of the programme in helping lone parents move into employment.
§ Mr. BurnsTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to her answer of 21 April 1998,Official Report, columns 604–05, on lone parents, how many lone parents who gained employment between 1 March and 31 March are now in receipt of income support and have no earnings. [40952]
§ Mr. Keith BradleyThe number of lone parents who gained employment between 1 and 31 March 1998 was 280, and, of these, 25 are now in receipt of Income Support and have no earnings.
It is not possible to draw conclusions about exit rates from employment of lone parents on the New Deal for Lone Parents as the data from the New Deal for Lone Parents are insufficient to calculate exit rates. The evaluation of the New Deal for Lone Parents will identify any factors which have affected the programme's success and will calculate exit rates from employment of lone parents on the New Deal for Lone Parents. The full evaluation will report in Autumn 1999.