New Deal (Hansard, 17 July 2000)

§ Mr. Evans
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people in Wales aged 25 years and over have left the New Deal for jobs lasting less than 13 weeks but 89W have been included in the number leaving for sustained employment as a result of not having returned to jobseeker' s allowance. [131035]

§ Mr. Paul Murphy
The definition of a sustained job is one from which the employee does not return to Jobseeker's Allowance within 13 weeks. Information is not available on whether those employees retain the same job.
Latest figures, to the end of April 2000, show that 2,382 people had gained sustained employment from the 25+ New Deal programme.

§ Mr. Evans
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people in Wales have joined the New Deal since it was established. [131037]

§ Mr. Paul Murphy
To April 2000, 29,330 young people joined the 18–24 New Deal programme. 13,440 joined the 25+ New Deal programme.

§ Mr. Evans
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people have left their New Deal scheme in Wales to be placed on(a) Incapacity Benefit, (b) Income Support, (c) Jobseeker's Allowance and (d) other benefit. [131053]

§ Mr. Paul Murphy
To the end of April 2000, 4,590 people left the 25+ New Deal and continued to claim Jobseeker's Allowance. An additional 1,190 transferred to other benefits including Incapacity Benefit and Income Support. No breakdown of this figure is available.

§ Mr. Evans
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many New Deal participants in Wales have found sustained unsubsidised jobs of 13 weeks or more before having had a New Deal interview. [131041]

§ Mr. Paul Murphy
To April 2000, 1,060 participants left the 18–24 programme and 225 left the 25+ programme for sustained unsubsidised jobs before participating in a New Deal interview.

§ Mr. Evans
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the average cost of the New Deal in Wales is per participant. [131048]

§ Mr. Paul Murphy
Approximately £1,577.

§ Mr. Evans
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of New Deal participants in Wales have seen their wages rise on leaving the scheme. [131040]

§ Mr. Paul Murphy
No central information is held on the wage levels of those leaving New Deal.