HC Deb 01 July 2002 vol 388 c82W
21. Mr. Mahmood

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of employment zones in reducing unemployment. [63406]

31. Mr. Russell Brown

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of employment zones in reducing unemployment levels. [63418]

Mr. Nicholas Brown

Employment Zones are one of a range of initiatives we have introduced to help people move into work.

The performance of the 15 Employment Zones is encouraging. By February this year they had helped over 22,000 long-term unemployed people from some of the country's most deprived areas into work.

We are currently evaluating the Zones and the results of this will feed into their ongoing improvement.