§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales how he expects the New Deal to assist those in Wales with disabilities; and if he will make a statement. [41496]
§ Mr. HainThe New Deal for People with Disabilities will help people with a disability or long-term illness who want to work to do so.
£195 million has been set aside across the UK to develop a range of initiatives to help those currently dependent on benefits to return to work; those in work to remain in work; and to help carers balance any responsibilities with work, or to take up work when their caring responsibilities come to an end.
The programme of help will include innovative projects which will test ways to help people move into work and remain in work; an information campaign; research into current and developing provision and benefit changes to remove disincentives to work.
Central to this will be personal advice to help disabled people and those with long-standing illness to identify and overcome barriers to work. This approach will enable tailored plans to be developed for each individual who participates under the New Deal. This Personal Adviser Service will be piloted from October 1998 in a number of areas. I am delighted that one of these pilots will be in Wales (covering Merthyr, Aberdare, Blackwood, Caerphilly and Ebbw Vale).