§ Earl Russellasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many unemployed people aged 18–24 have had benefits totally withdrawn for refusing to take part in the Welfare to Work programme; and what was the duration of such disentitlement; and [HL3817]
How many unemployed people aged 18–24 have had their benefits reduced for refusing to take part in the Welfare to Work programme; and what were the percentages and duration of such reductions. [HL3818]
§ The Minister of State, Department for Education and Employment (Baroness Blackstone)The Employment Service New Deal Evaluation Database shows that, to September, 1,352 participants have been subject to benefit sanctions. While the database holds the number of people sanctioned, it cannot give the length of the sanction or indicate if benefit has been totally withdrawn; this will depend on whether the sanction is Jobseeker's Allowance-related or a specific New Deal sanction and on whether the client has already received a sanction previously.
§ Earl Russellasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are conducting any follow-up study to monitor the effects of benefit disentitlement or reduction on 18–24 year olds who have refused to take part in the Welfare to Work programme. [HL3819]
§ Baroness BlackstoneThe progress of New Deal clients who have been sanctioned is being monitored alongside other groups of New Dealers. Results from such analysis will be reported as part of the evaluation and monitoring of New Deal.