§ Mr. JenkinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of intermediate labour markets in reducing long-term unemployment. [56982]
§ Mr. Andrew SmithThe Department has commissioned the Institute for Employment Research to investigate current intermediate labour market 231W programmes, and what evaluation evidence exists about their effectiveness. The research is due to be published before the end of this year, and I will arrange for a copy to be placed in the Library.
The Government are interested in any measure that has the potential to help in tackling long-term unemployment. Elements of the intermediate labour market approach are included in our Welfare to Work programme, through Employment Zones, the New Deals for the young unemployed and people with disabilities and the pilots under the New Deal for adult long-term unemployed. All these initiatives will be fully evaluated.