§ Earl Russellasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will provide a list of the headings under which data are being collected for the New Deal Evaluation Database; and whether they will deal with the information which relates to the impact of benefit sanctions on New Deal clients. [HL2604]
§ Baroness BlackstoneThe New Deal Evaluation Database collects information and collates this on a range of issues. These are personal characteristics; key
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Table 2 Numbers of young people starting on New Deal—April 1998 to December 1999 Region Total Northern 28,440 Wales 23,370 Scotland 43,780 National 386,000 dates of activity and processes; entry to New Deal and destinations on leaving; unemployment (prior to entering New Deal and subsequent to leaving New Deal); jobs gained; geography; spells on New Deal and New Deal options.
For each issue a specific range of information is collected and key statistics are published each month in the New Deal Statistical First Release. The tables in this release show client starts to New Deal; participation on the programme; and destination of leaving, which includes job outcomes. Information is broken down by gender, disability and ethnicity. Local level information at regional, unit of delivery and parliamentary constituency level is published in the House of Commons Library.
There is evidence that those who are sanctioned subsequently comply with the responsibilities they have as New Deal participants.
Published information on New Deal option sanctions is drawn from the official source of New Deal sanctions—the Decision Making and Appeals System. This information gives the number of sanctions imposed but does not identify individuals involved nor does it break down any personal characteristics.