§ Mr. Alasdair MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many participants from Dumfries and Galloway in(a) the New Deal for 18–24 year olds and (b) the New Deal for 25 year olds and over have returned to (i) Jobseeker's Allowance, (ii) other benefits and (iii) unsubsidised employment through the New Deal. [128468]
§ Ms JowellLatest figures to end April 2000 for the categories requested in Dumfries and Galloway are set out as follows. However, they are expressed as leavers from New Deal rather than returners as everyone starting either of the New Deals is already claiming Jobseeker's Allowance. We cannot therefore describe them as returning to other benefits or unsubsidised employment.
Leavers New Deal 18–24 New Deal 25+ Jobseeker's Allowance 178 446 Other benefits 116 71 Unsubsidised employment 379 68
§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people are eligible for the guaranteed minimum take home pay of £170 per week under the New Deal for the over 50s(a) nationally, (b) on Teesside and (c) in the constituency of Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East; and if he will make a statement. [128638]
410W
§ Ms JowellNew Deal 50-plus is a major new programme of personal advice, support and financial help for people over 50 who are looking for work. The programme is aimed at unemployed and economically inactive people in receipt of benefit for six months or more and their dependent partners. The table shows those people who are directly eligible for New Deal 50-plus. However, in addition dependent partners of these benefit recipients will also be eligible, as will be men aged 60–65 receiving National Insurance credits automatically.
The £170 minimum income guarantee applies to those people going into full-time work and additionally receiving the Employment Credit of £60 per week. It is not possible to say how many people will be eligible for the Employment Credit but our assumption is that about 90 per cent. of those that apply will be eligible.
Income Support, Jobseekers Allowance, Incapacity Benefit and Severe Disablement Allowance recipients aged 50 or over with a current claim duration of six months or more, as at February 2000 Thousand Area Income Support Jobseekers Allowance Incapacity Benefit Severe Disablement Allowance Great Britain 1,725.3 98.2 860.6 135.9 Teesside (total of Unitary Authorities): 19.7 1.9 13.8 1.2 Middlesbrough UA 5.5 — 3.1 *0.4 Redcar and Cleveland US 5.0 — 3.9 *0.2 Hartlepool UA 4.0 — 2.6 *0.3 Stockton-on-Tees UA 5.2 — 4.1 *0.3 Middlesbrough and Cleveland, East Parliamentary constituency 2.9 0.3 2.1 *0.2 Notes:
1. Numbers marked '*'are based on very few sample cases and are subject to a high degree of sampling error. These figures should be used as a guide to the current situation only.
2. Income Support figures exclude claimants who also receive IB/SDA.
3. IB and SDA figures exclude those persons receiving National Insurance Credits only.
§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many young people have found(a) non-subsidised jobs and (b) education, training or work experience through the New Deal for 18 to 24-year-olds, (i) nationally, (ii) on Teesside and (iii) in the constituency of Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East; and if he will make a statement. [128641]
§ Ms JowellThe latest information, to the end of April 2000, is shown in the table. This sets out the number of unsubsidised jobs taken by young people through the 411W New Deal and those who have benefited from education, training or work experience opportunities on the New Deal options.
New Deal for Young People Unsubsidised jobs New Deal options Great Britain 191,360 168,900 Teesside 3,914 4,083 Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East 468 550 We are on target to meet our manifesto commitment to help 250,000 young people into jobs through the New Deal. At the end of April we had reached a total of 216,200.