§ Mr. BeardTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the impact the new employment credit for the over-50s will have in London. [116635]
§ Ms Jowell[holding answer 6 April 2000]: New Deal 50 plus will bring new hope to people over 50, including over 200,000 eligible Londoners. It includes a tax free employment credit, which guarantees a minimum take home income of £170 a week or £9,000 a year for those going into full-time work. It is a major new programme of personal advice, jobsearch support, in-work training grant and the employment credit to help people on benefits who are looking for work. The programme has been available nationally from 3 April 2000 after operating in nine selected areas since last October. In only five months over 1,000 people were helped off benefit and back into work.