§ Mr. QuinnTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has for the private sector to lead partnerships for the organisation and delivery of the New Deal to those unemployed adults covered by the pilot initiatives due to commence in November. [42545]
§ Mr. Andrew SmithThe Government wish to build on the experience gained from New Deal for 18-24-year-olds in taking forward the pilots of enhanced provision for182W those aged 25 and over, which were announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the budget and which are due to start in November.
Accordingly we have decided that around a third of the pilots which we intend to establish later this year should be taken forward by private sector led partnerships and that these should be in the areas where the private sector has been invited similarly to lead on the New Deal for 18-24-year-olds. The areas concerned are, Bridgend and Glamorgan Valleys, Colchester, Exeter and East Devon, Forth Valley, Hackney and City, Leicestershire, Solihull, South Humber, Tyneside North and West Lancashire.
Advertisements seeking expressions of interest in these pilots will appear in the national and local press shortly. We aim to announce the successful bidders in each locality by the end of August.
The remainder of the pilots will be led by local New Deal partnerships. We will be announcing plans to select these areas in due course.