§ 27. Mr. RossTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what measures he plans to assist long-term unemployed people in deprived areas. [28167]
§ Mr. Nicholas BrownOur welfare to work initiatives are helping people into work in all parts of the country. The new deals have already helped well over 600,000 people into jobs.
We introduced employment zones specifically to help long-term unemployed people in deprived areas get and keep work. The performance of the 15 employment zones is encouraging. Early indications are that almost half of participants find work. We are currently evaluating the zones before deciding how to take the initiative further.
Action teams for jobs are helping jobless people in the most employment deprived areas in the country into work. By the end of their first year of operation (mid-October 2001), action teams had helped nearly 16,500 people into jobs. Earlier this month we increased the number of action teams from 53 to 63.