§ Mr. RowlandsTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his latest estimate of the number of 18 to 24-year-olds who have entered(a) further education, (b) training and (c) employment programmes under the New Deal in Wales. [83767]
§ Mr. HainThe latest information from the Department for Education and Employment indicates that, by the end of February 1999:
just under 2,200 young people had entered the Full-time Education and Training Option of the New Deal for 18–24s in Wales (separate totals are not available to show the numbers entering Education or Training);almost 1,500 young people had entered subsidised jobs under the Employer Option of the New Deal for 18–24s in Wales.A further 1,900 young people had entered a period of work experience with either the Environment Task Force or the Voluntary Sector.