§ Mr. Denzil DaviesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total estimated amount of new deal funding to be provided in Wales for (i) young people and (ii) disabled people. [42672]
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§ Mr. HainThe new deal is about meeting individual needs, and therefore expenditure will be determined by the number of eligible people taking-up the opportunities and the nature of their requirements.
On the basis of the planning assumptions for 1998–99, we anticipate expenditure in Wales on the new deal for 18–24 year olds to be around £20 million to £25 million.
Expenditure on people with disabilities is more difficult to estimate at this stage because the new deal for disabled people includes a number of initiatives which are currently under development. I am delighted that we have recently secured for Wales one of the first six personal adviser service pilots, which will be in the eastern valleys.
In addition to this, both the new deal for 18–24 year olds and the new deal for those aged 25 and over will provide assistance to people with disabilities who are in receipt of the job seekers' allowance and who join these programmes.