§ Mr. HealdTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people had benefits withdrawn for failing to accept all options under(a) New Deal for Young People, (b) New Deal 50 plus and (c) New Deal 25 plus. [83511]
§ Mr. Nicholas Brown[holding answer 26 November 2002]: New Deal 50 plus has always been a voluntary programme and so there are no benefit sanctions for not participating.
138WBetween January 1998 and September 2002, 64,106 sanctions, to withdraw any Jobseeker's Allowance in payment, had been imposed under the New Deal for Young People. Between April 1998 and June 2002, 21,607 sanctions to withdraw benefit had been imposed under the New Deal 25 plus. We record only the total number of sanctions imposed and not the number of people sanctioned. Some people are sanctioned more than once.
§ Mr. HealdTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of entrants to New Deal for Young People were functionally illiterate in(a) its first year and (b) the latest period for which figures are available. [83512]
§ Mr. Nicholas Brown[holding answer 26 November 2002]: We estimate that at least 32 per cent. of all unemployed people have literacy, language and/or numeracy needs, which in part prevent them from improving their employability and finding secure work. Information is not available specifically on the level of illiteracy among entrants to the New Deal for Young People.
Jobcentre Plus screens around 15,000 people a week for literacy and/or numeracy needs. Clients who need help with their literacy and/or numeracy can access job focused training to ensure they are able to develop the skills they need to find and retain work. From April 2001 to January 2002, more than 4,400 young people received basic skills help in the New Deal for Young People. In the same period 10,000 began basic skills training though other programmes or voluntary New Deals.
§ Mr. HealdTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the improvements in employability of those on each New Deal; and if he will make a statement. [83514]
§ Mr. Nicholas Brown[holding answer 26 November 2002]: The New Deals are delivering services tailored to meet the needs of individuals, giving people the skills, confidence and motivation they need to help them find work.
We have in place a wide-ranging programme of evaluation of our New Deals. This evaluation examines the benefits that New Deals are providing, including the increased likelihood of participants moving into work. Evaluation reports are placed in the Library as they are published.
§ Mr. HealdTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have entered the New Deal gateway(a) once, (b) twice and (c) three times or more in respect of (i) New Deal for Young People, (ii) New Deal 50 plus, and (iii) New Deal 25 plus. [83515]
§ Mr. Nicholas Brown[holding answer 26 November 2002]: The New Deal 50 plus, does not have a gateway period.
At June 2002, 738,950 people had started on the gateway of the New Deal for Young People programme. 139W Of these 101,160 clients (16.7 per cent. of all gateway starters) have entered the gateway twice and 16,040 (2.7 per cent. of all gateway starters) have entered the gateway three times or more.
At June 2002, 482,680 people had started on the gateway of the New Deal 25 plus. Of these 55,990 clients (13.6 per cent. of all gateway starters) have entered the gateway twice and 7,050 (1.7 per cent. of all gateway starters) have entered the gateway three times or more.
Many participants will leave the programme before they reach the gateway stage (e.g. by finding work following their initial interview) so the numbers entering the gateway are significantly lower than the number entering the programme.
Source:
New Deal Evaluation Database.
§ Mr. HealdTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will provide the information given in his Answer to the hon. Member for Hertsmere of 31 January,Official Report, column 537W, in respect of 2001–02. [86056]
Expenditure on the New Deals1 £ million 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–022 Total 1997 to 2002 Of which: Windfall Tax Planned3 spend 2002–03 Young People 50 268 378 368 285 1,347 1,080 354 25 plus 0 24 108 128 226 486 420 303 50 plus4 0 0 5 20 15 40 40 16 Lone Parents 0 21 41 41 36 139 135 142 Disabled People 0 5 20 10 10 45 45 58 Partners 0 0 5 10 10 25 25 26 1 Includes expenditure in Northern Ireland. 2 2002–03 figures reflect planned gross expenditure, including Windfall Tax. Future New Deal allocations are currently being revised to reflect the outcome of Spending Review 2002. 3 New Deal 50 plus expenditure does not include employment credits, which are met from Annually Managed Expenditure.