§ Mr. PikeTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people in the North West have been through the New Deal since its commencement. [85428]
§ Mr. Andrew SmithThe latest Government Statistical Service figures to the end of March 1999 show that 37,790 young people, in the Employment Service North West region, have joined the New Deal for young people since it started in the first Pathfinder areas in January 1998. Of these 17,800 have left, leaving 19,900 still participating at some stage of the New Deal process.