§ Gillian MerronTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the operation of the way into work pilot schemes to assist disabled people. [143632]
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§ Ms Hodge[holding answer 20 December 2000]: Latest figures show that to the beginning of December, 582 disabled people have been placed into employment through the Employment Service way into work pilot.
The pilot has been successful in delivering on its aims and objectives of increasing job placings of disabled people and improving long-term relationships with employers.
Way into work and similar Employment Service job matching initiatives are now operational in approximately two thirds of Britain, and complement the existing national job placing and employment support functions provided by Employment Service disability employment advisers (DEAs).
Lessons learned from the pilot have been captured in a widely distributed good practice guide and have also fed into the further development of disability employment adviser and disability service manager training.
The Employment Service will continue to deliver way into work and similar initiatives in 2001 and will aim to continue building on the success achieved by the pilot.