§ Mr. AshdownTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people have had their benefits stopped for failing properly to take up a New Deal option, at each benefit office within the Yeovil constituency and at the Taunton office; and if he will make a statement. [110797]
§ Ms JowellBetween 1 April 1999 and 30 September 1999 (the latest date for which data are available), 540 young people started on New Deal and at any one time there were just over 700 young people participating in New Deal in the Employment Service's Somerset Unit of Delivery. During this six month period, eight sanctions were imposed for failing to attend a New Deal option in Somerset. This figure cannot be disaggregated to constituency level. The Somerset Unit of Delivery includes the jobcentres in Taunton, Yeovil, Bridgwater, Burnham-on-Sea, Chard, Frome, Minehead, Street, Wellington and Wells.