§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the delivery of the New Deal Programme by(a) the Employment Service and (b) TECs. [54864]
§ Mr. Andrew SmithThe Employment Service is responsible for the delivery of the New Deal across Great Britain with a distinct lead role for specific private sector providers in some areas. In every area partnerships of key local bodies play a vital part in the development of delivery of New Deal. TECs play a role to varying extents in each of those partnerships in England and Wales.
§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the contracting procedure in the voluntary sector option of the New Deal. [54854]
§ Mr. Andrew SmithVoluntary Sector Option contracts are for three years with an annual break clause. Contracts for this sector may guarantee a minimum volume of participants. 158 main contracts have been signed with the Voluntary sector. We are working closely with the sector continuously to improve the contracting procedures.