§ Mrs. MayTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the funding for(a) 1997–98 and (b) 1998–99 for the supported employment scheme for disabled people. [57708]
§ Ms Hodge[holding answer 2 November 1998]: Expenditure on the Supported Employment Programme for 1997–98 was £155.6 million. The allocated budget for the Programme for 1998–99 is £155.1 million. However, as announced last week we have made an additional £30 million available to help disabled people get jobs, half of which will be spent on supported employment.
People with a disability or long term illness will also be able to benefit from the New Deal for Disabled People for which £195 million has been set aside for the lifetime of this Parliament.