HC Deb 09 July 2003 vol 408 cc842-3W
Paul Holmes

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much has been spent on employment zones since the programme began(a) in total and (b) broken down by zone; and if he will make a statement. [114462]

Mr. Browne

Information on the total budget and expenditure on the Employment Zone initiative is in the table.

£ million
Total budget Total expenditure
2000–01 56.4 72.0
2001–02 87.0 95.5
2002–03 91.3 184
1Indicative

Source:

Jobcentre Plus

Information on expenditure for individual Employment Zones cannot be published because it is `commercial in confidence'.

The differences between budget and spend in 2000–01 and 2001–02 are partly accounted for by better than anticipated performance by zone contractors, and more participants entering the programme earlier than forecast.