New Deal (Gateway) (Hansard, 23 February 1999)

§ Mr. Andrew Smith

Responsibility for the subject of this question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its Chief Executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from Leigh Lewis to Mr. David Maclean, dated 17 February 1999: As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State for Education and Employment has asked me to reply to your question about the reasons why the length of the Gateway period for those participating in New Deal for 18–24 year olds may be extended beyond four months. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency. There are four main categories of young people whose stay on the Gateway may properly extend beyond the normal four month maximum. The first category covers young people who are not required to go on to an option at the end of four months because they are clearly intending to cease claiming Jobseeker's Allowance in the very near future. Examples, include young people who are due to start full time work; emigrate; or leave Jobseeker's Allowance to claim maternity allowance. The second category covers situations where entry to a New Deal option is, by agreement with a Personal Adviser, delayed for a short period where there is good reason. Examples include circumstances where a young person has suffered a bereavement; suffers a short-term illness; or where their planned provision is unexpectedly not available. The third category covers young people who refuse to enter a New Deal option. In these circumstances their case will normally be referred to an adjudication officer for a decision on the individual's benefit entitlement during which time the young person is regarded as still being on the Gateway. The fourth category covers returners to the Gateway. If a young person leaves the Gateway and subsequently returns within 13 weeks, they will re-enter the Gateway at the point which they left.