HC Deb 27 November 2000 vol 357 cc411-2W
Ms Kelly

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many(a) youth unemployed, (b) long-term unemployed, (c) lone parents and (d) disabled unemployed have (1) gained (i) subsidised and (ii) unsubsidised employment and (2) undertaken training under the New Deal scheme in (A) Bolton and (B) the North-West. [139513]

Ms Jowell

The following table shows the figures requested for Bolton and the North-West:

New deal for young people New deal forlong-term unemployed aged 25† New deal for lone parents
Bolton
Subsidised jobs 140 22 n/a
Unsubsidised jobs 914 141 394
Undertaken training 617 59 68

New deal for young people New deal for long-term unemployed aged 25† New deal forlone parents
North-West
Subsidised jobs 5,288 1,798 n/a
Unsubsidised jobs 30,449 5,068 8,932
Undertaken training 22,473 3,073 2,302

The New Deal for Lone Parents does not have a subsidised employment component.

Disabled unemployed people have the option of joining either the New Deal for young people or the New Deal for long-term unemployed aged 25† without having to complete the usual six or 24 months unemployment. These people are therefore included in the figures quoted in the table. There are currently New Deal for Disabled People pilots running in only some areas, including one in Bolton. To end August 2000, 340 people had found work in Bolton through the pilot. We know that significant numbers of people leave the New Deal for jobs without telling the Employment Service.

Mr. Llwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many young people in Wales have found employment through the New Deal since its inception; and what percentage this represents of all unemployed young people. [140124]

Ms Jowell

Latest figures to the end of August 2000 show that 16,580 young people in Wales have gained employment through the New Deal for Young People.

As at October 2000, the number of 18 to 24-year-olds claiming Jobseeker's Allowance in Wales was 15,100—compared to 19,400 as at April 1998.

Mr. Llwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what percentage of the young people who found employment through the New Deal have found sustained unsubsidised work.[140214]

Ms Jowell

Latest figures to the end of August 2000 show that 244,450 young people have gained employment through the New Deal for Young People. Of these, 66 per cent. were sustained unsubsidised jobs. Young people leaving the New Deal do not have to notify the Employment Service that they have found jobs: independent surveys have found that over half of young people whose destination upon leaving the New Deal is recorded as unknown have, in fact, found work.