§ Mr. WebbTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the current ratio of New Deal for lone parents advisers to lone parents participating in the scheme; and what ratio is envisaged when the pilot becomes a nationwide scheme. [40214]
§ Mr. Keith BradleyUp to 31 March 1998, a total of 4,637 lone parents had agreed to participate in the New Deal for Lone Parents in the eight prototype areas; and during this period 72 advisers were available to work with them. The ratio of advisers to lone parents in the nationwide programme will of course depend on the rate at which lone parents participate in the service. However, the Government are drawing up resourcing plans for the New Deal for Lone Parents using assumptions based on the participation rate to date. Therefore, the ratio of advisers to lone parents in the nationwide service will be at least as good as it has been up until April 1998.
§ Mr. WebbTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of all lone parents who have received an initial letter under the New Deal for lone286W parents' pilots have moved from income support into paid employment; if she will provide similar figures for (a) lone parents with mortgages, (b) lone parents in rented accommodation and (c) lone parents who are non-householders; and if she will make a statement on the role of housing tenure in determining the likelihood of moving off welfare and into work. [40213]
§ Mr. Keith BradleyThe information can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
The management data which are routinely collected on the New Deal for Lone Parents do not identify the housing status of lone parents.
A wide range of factors affect the likelihood of any individual lone parent moving off Income Support and into work. The Personal Adviser approach is designed to offer tailored help and advice which will take account of each individual's particular circumstances, including housing status where relevant.
Up until 31 March 1998, 1,530 lone parents had obtained work following participation in the New Deal for Lone Parents, of whom 1,114 left Income Support. A further 201 had been able to increase their hours of work, of whom 169 left Income Support.
§ Mr. BradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of lone parents would have to find work under the New Deal for Lone Parents for the scheme to be cost neutral. [40822]
§ Mr. Keith BradleyThe percentage of lone parents finding work is only one of a number of factors which affect the potential savings arising from the New Deal for Lone Parents, including the earnings of lone parents going back to work, how long lone parents remain in work, and substitution and displacement effects.
A full evaluation on the short and longer term effects of the New Deal for Lone Parents will be published in Autumn 1999; this will take account of a number of factors including observed earnings and duration of work.