§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many New Deal participants have found sustained unsubsidised jobs of 13 weeks or more before having had a New Deal interview. [102104]
§ Ms Jowell[holding answer 9 December 2000]: By the end of December 1999, 12,520 young people had left the Gateway for sustained unsubsidised jobs having been sent a letter telling them they are now on the New Deal.
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§ Mr. MaudeTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many participants in the New Deal have been offered permanent employment to date. [101833]
§ Ms JowellStatistics are not collected using a category of "permanent" as this is not a term that adequately describes the realities of the modern labour market. However, we do know that by the end of December 1999, 185,250 young people under the New Deal for young people found jobs. Of these, 135,350 were sustained jobs lasting 13 weeks or more. In addition, 34,170 people under the New Deal for long-term unemployed people aged 25 and over found jobs (28,550 were sustained). A recent survey showed also that 57 per cent. of young people leaving the New Deal Gateway for unknown destinations had found a job.
§ Mr. JenkinTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what projects have been completed by the New Deal Environmental Task Force in the North-Essex Employment Service area since its inception. [115271]
§ Ms Jowell[holding answer 20 March 2000]: In the North-Essex New Deal Unit of Delivery, the following 10 projects have been completed by the Environment Task Force:
- Dyke clearance, pathway construction at Jaywick
- Wide area clearance at Dovercourt
- Planting, pathway construction, footbridge at Parkeston
- Laying bark paths, constructing footbridge at Frinton
- Refurbishment of lightship museum at Harwich
- Alteration and decoration of Church Hall at Harwich
- Construction of memorial gardens and play equipment at Brightlingsea
- Decorating local Arts Trust Theatre at Dovercourt
- Constructing of storage, recreational and play area for local school at Clacton
- Construction of pathways and picnic benches at Parkeston.
There are four current projects under way as follows:
- Path laying, tree cutting, hedge clearing at Chelmsford
- Path laying, tree cutting, hedge clearing at Braintree/Colchester (two projects).
All these projects are contributing both to increased employability for young people and to the Government's wider environmental objectives.
§ Dr. Jack CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people have had their benefits stopped for failing effectively to pursue a New Deal option, at each benefit office in Copeland; and if he will make a statement. [115069]
§ Ms Jowell[holding answer 20 March 2000]: Between 1 April 1999 and 31 December 1999 (the latest date for which data are available) 1,200 young people started on New Deal and at any time there were just over 1,440 young people participating in the New Deal in the Employment Service's Cumbria Unit of Delivery. During this nine-month period, 219 sanctions were imposed for failing to attend a New Deal option in Cumbria. This figure cannot be disaggregated to constituency level. The Cumbria Unit of Delivery includes the jobcentres in Carlisle, Cleator Moor, Cockermouth, Keswick, 569W Maryport, Penrith, Whitehaven, Workington, Barrow in Furness, Kendal, Lancaster, Millom, Morecombe, Ulverston and Windermere.
§ Mr. JenkinTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people have taken part in the New Deal Environmental Task Force in North-Essex Employment Service area(a) in the first year and (b) in the current year to date. [115269]
§ Ms Jowell[holding answer 20 March 2000]: In the North-Essex New Deal Unit of Delivery, 57 young people started on the Environment Task Force in 1998; the figure for 1999 was 78. These figures have contributed towards the national total of 25,400 young people who have benefited from the work experience opportunities that the Environmental Task Force provides.
§ Mr. JenkinTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what was the financial surplus or deficit for the New Deal Environmental Task Force in North-Essex Employment Service area(a) in the first year and (b) in the current year to date; [115270]
(2) what the cost was of the New Deal Environmental Task Force in the North-Essex employment service area (a) in the previous year and (b) in the current year to date. [115424]
§ Ms Jowell[holding answer 20 March 2000]: North-Essex is a private sector-led Unit of Delivery in which the New Deal for young people is led by SEETEC. Funding is on the basis of a unit cost for each participant and a monthly fee. This information, in line with all payments to contractors, is commercially confidential and cannot be released.