§ Sir Archy KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to extend the StepUP programme. [170042]
§ Jane KennedyStepUP builds on the New Deal for Young People and New Deal 25 plus by providing transitional jobs for people who have not secured sustained employment through New Deal. There are currently 20 StepUP pilots operating in selected wards across Great Britain.
An interim report (Evaluation of StepUP:Interim Report 186/2004) was published on 16 March and is available in the Library. It is too soon to say whether StepUP will be rolled out nationally. However, a final report on the programme, which will establish its effectiveness in helping people into sustained work, work, will include recommendations on roll out.
The report is due to be published in July 2005 and a copy of this will be placed in the Library.