§ 15. Mr. Russell BrownTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has for future development of the New Deal for Lone Parents.[124961]
§ Angela EagleLone parents will benefit from a raft of measures to be introduced during 2001 through the New Deal for Lone Parents and Working Families Tax Credit. These include a £15 training premium, an increase in the Income Support earnings disregard, and help with funding for child care costs for a lone parent moving into part-time work. And all lone parents working 16 hours a week or more will get at least £155, and £214 if they work 35 hours or more.
§ 20. Mr. BluntTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what his estimate is of the total savings to date to his Department as a result of the New Deal for Lone Parents.[124966]
§ Angela EagleThe independent evaluation of the prototype phase of the New Deal for Lone Parents confirms that the prototype clawed back nearly 90 per cent. of its total costs and, looking at operating costs only, it made a surplus of about £1.8 million.
The programme's national phase is being evaluated separately. It too will include a cost-benefit analysis and will be available in spring 2002.
§ 36. Siobhain McDonaghTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what measures his Department is taking to help lone parents obtain employment. [124984]
§ Angela EagleAs part of a comprehensive strategy to help lone parents obtain employment and make work pay we have introduced the New Deal for Lone Parents, the Lone Parents Benefit Run-On and Working Families Tax Credit. In the Budget we announced a guaranteed minimum income of £155 a week from next April for lone parents working 16 hours a week or more; £214 a week for lone parents working 35 hours or more. We also announced an increase in the earnings disregard in Income Support for lone parents from £15 to £20, funding for child care costs for the first year that lone parents move into part-time work and a £15 premium to help lone parents train for work.