HC Deb 08 June 1999 vol 332 cc314-5W
Judy Mallaber

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how his Department is evaluating the(a) environmental and (b) educational benefits of the New Deal Environment Task Force projects. [86073]

Mr. Andrew Smith

The Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions will shortly be appointing consultants to evaluate the environmental impact of the projects carried out by the New Deal Environment Task Force Option since January 1998. Further evaluation is currently being carried out by the Employment Service, which will provide details of the skills and qualifications gained by participants on this option. Results of this evaluation will be published later this year.

Judy Mallaber

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many young people are currently mandated on to the Environment Task Force having already unsuccessfully tried other New Deal options. [86076]

Mr. Andrew Smith

This information is not collected in the form requested. I shall write to my hon. Friend when some information on this issue is available from the quantitative evaluation of New Deal due to report later in the year and will place a copy of my letter in the Library.

Judy Mallaber

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many young people are currently on the Environment Task Force option of New Deal. [86099]

Mr. Andrew Smith

The latest Government Statistical Service figures to the end of March 1999 showed that 6,950 young people were on the Environment Task Force option.

Judy Mallaber

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what range of skills training and qualifications are available in the placements on the New Deal Environment Task Force projects. [86074]

Mr. Andrew Smith

In addition to the practical skills and work experience it provides, young people on the New Deal Environment Task Force Option are able to study towards a qualification listed in Schedule 2 of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992 or by the Scottish Qualifications Authority, normally up to S/NVQ level two or equivalent. Young people may choose to study qualifications which are directly related to the Option, such as Rural Studies and Environmental Management or Environmental Management Skills, or choose to train for skills and qualifications which have a wider application in the labour market, such as Customer Service or Information Technology.

Judy Mallaber

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many different placement projects there are currently within the New Deal Environment Task Force. [86075]

Mr. Andrew Smith

This information is not currently available. I shall write to my hon. Friend when the current exercise to collect it is finished and will place a copy of my letter in the Library.