§ Mr. ClappisonTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of leavers from the 149W employment option of the New Deal in the pilot areas for Recruit found jobs (a) following the introduction of Recruit and (b) in each of the two years prior to the introduction of Recruit. [35162]
§ Mr. Nicholas BrownThe main objective of the pilots is to help small businesses use the Employment Option, and changes in the proportion of leavers into jobs will be influenced by a range of factors, not just Recruit.
A full evaluation of the pilot, will begin in April, and will provide a better picture of the impact of Recruit on employers and New Deal clients in the pilot areas. The pilot started in 19 areas in April 2001 and will continue until June 2002. Up to the end of December 2001, Recruit had helped 1,667 clients into work.
The information requested on the initiative is in the table.
Proportion of New Deal employment option clients leaving to known destinations who entered jobs (Percentage) April 1999—March 2000 71 April 2000—March 2001 69 April 2001—December 2001 69 Source:
New Deal Evaluation Database
In addition, we know from research that over 50 per cent. of those leaving New Deal for unknown destinations take up work.