§ Annabelle EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many disabled people have found regular consistent employment under the Government's New Deal for Disabled People since its inception, broken 447W down by nation and region in the UK; and what percentage the Scottish number represents of the total number of disabled people in Scotland. [16779]
§ Mr. Nicholas BrownWe believe that disabled people should be provided with the same opportunities as everyone else to find out about moving into work and to help themselves to become, and remain, more independent. Since July we have been establishing a national network of job brokers to provide support and services to people on incapacity benefits who want to work.
During the first pilot phase of the New Deal for Disabled People (NDDP), up to June 2001, 8,242 people in the pilot areas were helped into work, 978 of whom were in Scotland.
As at May 2001, there were 356,800 people of working age claiming one or more key sickness or disability benefits in Scotland. They will all have the opportunity to benefit from the wide range of innovative approaches delivered through NDDP job brokers that are helping people on benefits move into work.