§ Mr. BeggsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made to implement and monitor National Employment Plans in Northern Ireland. [132790]
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§ Jane KennedyThere is no separate Northern Ireland 'National Employment Plan' although our labour market plans are included within my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's 'Draft Priorities and Budget 2004–07' document and the Department for Employment and Learning's 'Service Delivery Agreement 2003–04'. Copies of these documents are available in the Library. Northern Ireland contributes, as do Scotland and Wales, to the National Employment Action Plan for the UK.
In Northern Ireland, Government programmes, and projects receiving European funding, address the key European Employment Strategy issues of employability, skills needs, entrepreneurship and equal opportunities in the labour market. Northern Ireland contributes information on the implementation of programmes and projects as part of the monitoring of national progress against the Employment Guidelines issued by the European Commission.