§ Mr. ColemanTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will investigate the reasons for New Deal for Young People participants who joined in July 1998 still being in the Gateway six months later; and if he will make a statement. [82738]
§ Mr. Andrew SmithThere have been a number of factors contributing to young people staying on the Gateway for longer than four months. In the majority of cases young people have had significant breaks from New Deal or are the subject of sanctions. Reasons for breaks include sickness and short-term employment; if a young person leaves the Gateway and subsequently returns within 13 weeks, they re-enter the Gateway at the point at which they left. Young people who are the subject of sanctions are currently classified as being on the Gateway.
We have taken a concerted series of initiatives with New Deal Personal Advisers and partner organisations designed to reduce further the number of young people staying more than four months on the Gateway, when this is not due to breaks in their participation. We will also be using the provision announced in the budget to pilot more intensive Gateway measures and to enable the fourth month of Gateway to focus more sharply on a job or option-outcome.