§ Mr. AlexanderTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many calls have been made to the New Deal Hotline in(a) Scotland and (b) the UK; how many were from (i) clients and (ii) employers; and how many were (1) positive comments and (2) complaints. [111137]
§ Ms JowellIn the period October 1998 (when records started) to January 2000; a total of 1,652 calls were made to the New Deal Hotline of which 376 came from Scotland. We do not disaggregate the source of calls by category of caller and only the complaints are identified separately from all other calls. In the UK, 344 of the calls made were classed as complaints of which 62 came from Scotland. The Employment Service follows up every complaint to a conclusion.
§ Mr. MacleanTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proportion of New Deal participants who have undertaken an option have moved into the employment option; to what extent Government targets in exercise of the employment option have been achieved; and if he will make a statement. [109283]
§ Ms JowellSince the start of New Deal 7.9 per cent. of young people leaving Gateway have moved onto the employment option. Although this is less than the original planning assumption, a further 35.5 per cent. have gone578W directly into unsubsidised jobs. Together these figures demonstrate how New Deal significantly improves the changes of many young people finding work.