HC Deb 02 March 2000 vol 345 cc392-3W
Mr. Alasdair Morgan

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will review the requirement under the New Deal programme whereby a JSA claimant who stops claiming JSA to work on a temporary contract with a employer has, on completing the contract to wait a further six months before becoming eligible for training. [112089]

Ms Jowell

There is no case for a review. Anyone who has been in employment for several months or more immediately prior to making a claim for Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) has an excellent chance of finding a job quickly and will be helped to do so by the Employment Service.

The New Deal for Young People is designed to help those who are at risk of long-term unemployment. It is essential that we target resources effectively. New Deal advisers have discretion to allow early access to the programme for young people claiming JSA who are likely to find it particularly difficult to find work.