§ Mr. SalterTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the extension of the New Deal for Partners of Unemployed People. [156638]
§ Ms JowellFrom 23 April 2001, partners of those receiving Income Support, Incapacity Benefit, Invalid Care Allowance and Severe Disablement Allowance will be eligible to participate in New Deal for Partners of Unemployed People. To reflect the wider group, from that date New Deal for Partners of Unemployed People will formally become New Deal for Partners.
About 450,000 partners of existing long-term claimants of those benefits will become eligible with a further 80,000 partners becoming eligible during the first year.
The aim of New Deal for Partners is to help reduce the number of workless households. Partners will have the opportunity to use the services of a personal adviser to help them directly into a job or, for those who are not job-ready, to training, education and other support.