Employment Zone (Hansard, 18 July 2002)

§ Mr. Clappison
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when the evaluation of the Employment Zone project will he completed; and if he will recommend an extension of the scheme. [70022]

§ Mr. Nicholas Brown
The Employment Zone contracts are subject to qualitative and quantitative evaluation. The qualitative study of Zone operations between winter 2000 and summer 2001 was published on 17 July 2002 (Working Age Evaluation Series, Number 124). A copy has been placed in the Library. A cohort study comparing characteristics and outcomes of Zone participants with those of similar long-term unemployed people will be published in late spring 2003.
Our evaluation to date shows that Employment Zones are making a positive contribution in helping long-term unemployed people in deprived areas move off benefit 524W and into work. The 15 Zones have already helped over 22,300 people into jobs. We have recently extended the current Zone contracts to March 2004 and, as the Chancellor announced on 15 July, we will also be testing the Employment Zone approach with other groups such as lone parents and people returning to the New Deals for a second time.
The qualitative evaluation report highlights some encouraging findings about the Zones, recognising, for example, that they have a genuinely innovative delivery system and underlining the importance of the flexibility afforded to Personal Advisers in helping people move into jobs. We will study the report's findings closely and consider what lessons can be learnt from the Employment Zone approach.

§ Mr. Clappison
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how the employment zone scheme interacts with the work of Jobcentre Plus. [70023]

§ Mr. Nicholas Brown
Jobcentre Plus works with Employment Zone contractors to help long-term unemployed people in 15 deprived areas move off benefit and into work. By the end of February 2002, the zones had helped over 22,300 people into jobs.
People aged 25 and over, living in a zone area and claiming income-based jobseeker's allowance, become eligible for employment zone help after either 12 or 18 months' unemployment (depending on the employment zone area). Jobcentre Plus identifies and refers eligible people to the employment zone at the appropriate time. Eligible participants who fail to attend an employment zone are brought to the attention of Jobcentre Plus by their personal adviser and may have their benefit sanctioned if there is no good cause for their non-attendance.
Jobcentre Plus and employment zone contractors have developed a strong working relationship. One of the ways they have achieved this is through the secondment of Jobcentre Plus staff to employment zones. Employment zones also have access to Jobcentre Plus premises and labour market information systems. This strong partnership ensures that payments to clients are accurate, and the zones contribute to Jobcentre Plus' achievement of the best job outcomes for clients.