HC Deb 02 March 1999 vol 326 c610W
Mr. Green

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what percentage of those who have entered the New Deal for Young People have spent more than four months on the Gateway. [74203]

Mr. Andrew Smith

Responsibility for the subject of the 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. Damian Green, dated 2 March 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 percentage of young people who have spent more than four months on the New Deal Gateway. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency. By the end of December 1998, 214,300 young people had entered the New Deal including those leaving before attending a Gateway interview. Of the total 20% were recorded as having spent more than 4 months in the Gateway. This includes people who returned to the Gateway after breaks including short periods of work or illness. I hope this is helpful.

Mr. Green

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many New Deal for Young People trainees were employed at his Department on 31 January; and what percentage this is of total employment in his Department.[74204]

Mr. Mudie

As at 31 January 1999, the Department for Education and Employment had 5 New Deal for Young People employees in post, representing 0.12 per cent. of the Department. Though the current position is that we now have 11 people employed on New Deal.