§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans the Government have to extend the New Deal within public sector employment. [73202]
§ Mr. Andrew SmithThe public sector has an important role in the labour market and we are keen to involve this sector in New Deal. We are working closely with public sector employers to encourage offers of public sector jobs to New Deal participants. However, the large majority of jobs in the economy are in the private sector, and we would expect this balance to be broadly reflected in job opportunities offered to New Deal participants.