§ Mr. RowlandsTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the estimated budget for(a) the New Deal and (b) Welsh Training and Enterprise Councils in 1998–99; and if he will make a statement on the (i) actual and (ii) percentage change in these figures relative to those in 1997–98. [41175]
§ Mr. HainThe budget for the New Deal in Wales in 1998–99 will depend on the take-up of the various New Deal programmes. The Employment Service, which has responsibility for the New Deal, currently anticipates that expenditure will be in the range of £25–£30 million.
133WThe budget for Wales in 1997–98 is not comparable with this figure as it comprised only the 3-month Pathfinder for the New Deal for 18–24 year olds in South-West Wales.
Provision for programmes delivered through TECs in 1998–99 is £104.4 million. This compares with an equivalent figure of £110.6 million last year—a reduction of £6.2 million, or 5.6 per cent.