§ 14. Ms BlearsTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what provision can be made to enable young people participating in the new deal to acquire basic skills to enhance their prospects of employment. [59116]
§ Mr. Andrew SmithOne of the key roles for New Deal Personal Advisers is to identify young people with basic skills needs. A range of help is available which is in place, including assessment, advice and access to training in basic literacy, numeracy and IT.
§ Mr. RowlandsTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many young people within his Department have been employed under the New Deal arrangements. [60367]
§ Mr. MudieAs at 18 November, the information on Civil Service Departments (including their Agencies) participating or intending to participate as employers in the New Deal is as follows:
Main department name (including their agencies New Deal staff employed Additional posts allocated but not yet filled Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 1 3 Cabinet Office 4 4 Culture, Media and Sport 0 3 Education and Employment 131 116 Environment, Transport and the Regions 0 11 Foreign and Commonwealth Office 0 8 Health 2 10 Home Office 0 15 International Development 0 10 Lord Chancellor's 0 6 Ministry of Defence 5 16 Northern Ireland Office 2 8 Scottish Office 7 43 Social Security 0 10 Trade and Industry 18 14 HM Treasury 3 6 Welsh Office 4 16 Total 177 169 1 These departments (including their Agencies) are allocating posts to be taken up within the next few months
§ Mr. WebbTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will place in the Library a copy of the tender document which was sent to those wishing to participate in the forthcoming New Deal pilot schemes for those aged 25 years or over. [60853]
§ Mr. DismoreTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many New Deal clients in Hendon have(a) had interviews with personal advisers, (b) proceeded through the Gateway, (c) had interviews with prospective employers and (d) obtained employment; and if he will make a statement. [60421]
§ Mr. Andrew SmithI will write to the hon. Member and my hon. Friend and place a copy of the letter in the Library.
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§ Mr. RowlandsTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate he has made of the number of people taken on under the New Deal arrangements by non-departmental bodies in receipt of financial support from his Department. [60529]
§ Mr. MudieNDPBs are encouraged to participate as an employer in New Deal. Information on the numbers of people taken under the New Deal by Non-Departmental bodies is not held centrally.
§ Mr. Don FosterTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many new courses or new places on existing courses have been provided for 18 to 24 year olds undertaking education and training under the New Deal(a) nationally, (b) by delivery unit and (c) by New Deal option. [59200]
§ Mr. Andrew SmithTo the end of August, there have been 5,600 starts on the Full Time Education and Training option. Figures for individual units of delivery are available in the Library.
§ Mr. RowlandsTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the responsibilities of each agency in relation to the health and safety of New Deal clients who have taken the option of a subsidised job. [60400]
§ Mr. Andrew SmithThe New Deal Employment Option aims to encourage employers to take on long-term unemployed people by the payment of a subsidy. Once recruited, the status of people who take subsidised jobs is identical to that of any other employee. Their health and safety is the responsibility of the employer, and is handled in accordance with the employer' s established procedure for meeting the requirements of health and safety legislation.
§ Mrs. BrintonTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what progress has been made in securing employer involvement in the New Deal for the young unemployed. [59113]
§ Mr. Andrew SmithI refer my hon. Friend to the oral reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Swindon, South (Ms Drown) on 19 November 1998,Official Report, column 1093.