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EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT
Luxembourg Summit
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans the United Kingdom presidency has to follow up the conclusions of the Luxembourg Special Summit on Employment. [26434]
Mr. Andrew Smith
[holding answer 10 February 1998]: Employment is at the top of our priorities for the UK presidency. It fits in well with the key elements of the Conclusions at the Luxembourg Special Summit on Employment which included agreement on the
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Employment Guidelines and a funding package to support employment initiatives. Our task is to convert the Conclusions into action.
The Employment Guidelines provide a more focused approach to tackling unemployment and form the basis of National Action Plans. As Presidency we are encouraging Member States to produce national action plans by mid-April, both to ensure that the Guidelines are given practical effect and so that there can be early discussion and analysis of their content. We intend that there should be a discussion of the Action Plans at the Cardiff European Council in June. We intend to produce and publish the UK Employment Action Plan considerably in advance of the deadline.
We also aim to make rapid progress in agreeing and implementing the employment related European Parliament financial package and welcome the opportunity to take forward work on demonstration projects, for which the European Parliament has provided 12 mecu in 1998. These projects will promote the exchange of experience and good practice to show which employment policies and initiatives work best.
In addition, we are developing employability as the overarching theme in the Social Affairs/Education arenas. The Joint Informal in March aims to develop a better understanding of the concept of employability and the issues that affect Member States in making a reality of the idea, as well as exchanging information and good practice.
Mr. Mitchell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the minimum sum required by the Commission of the European Community when making grants from its (a) Regional and (b) Social Fund for each unit of employment calculated to be created or saved as a qualification for making such grants for (i) the Community and (ii) the United Kingdom. [25121]
Mr. Andrew Smith:
There is no minimum sum of units of employment which have to be created or saved for the European Commission to make grants from its Regional Development Fund or its European Social Fund to the Community or the United Kingdom.
The European Commission negotiates programme plans with each Member State showing targets for the volume of outcomes expected (e.g. jobs created or saved, number of people going into self-employment or further training or further and higher education). Progress towards targets is monitored and evaluated as appropriate. Funding within a programme may be redirected within a programme or to other programmes for a range of reasons--for example, where funds are underspent or where objectives have changed for economic reasons.
Although past programme or project performance may have a bearing on the likelihood of future funding from Europe, there is no "minimum requirement" in terms of jobs.
Mr. Levitt:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what professional qualifications are recognised for teachers of lipreading. [29170]
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Ms Estelle Morris:
The Certificate for Teachers of Lip Reading is accredited by the Royal Society of Arts Examinations Board.
Mr. Rowe:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proportion of young people within the Gateway period for the New Deal have criminal records. [29296]
Mr. Andrew Smith:
Each New Deal programme is designed to offer help to all those who become eligible. The claimant unemployment statistics do not provide information on previous criminal records.
Mr. Willetts:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what percentage of (a) young unemployed and (b) long-term unemployed participants in the New Deal are expected to lack basic literacy and numeracy skills. [30487]
Mr. Andrew Smith:
The Adult Literacy in Britain Survey, published last year, suggested that around a third of unemployed people have serious difficulty with literacy and numeracy. The claimant unemployment statistics do not provide information on the literacy or numeracy skills of claimants. All participants on the New Deal for 18-24 year olds will have access to help to enhance basic skills if they need it. The New deal for long term unemployed people aged 25 or over will focus on helping people who have been unemployed for two years or more to find work. The programme also contains provision for people to enhance their skills to help their return to work, which may include help with basic skills.
Mr. Willetts:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much expenditure on the New Deal for (a) young and (b) long-term unemployed people in 1998-99 is expected to be directed to raising basic literacy and numeracy skills; and how many participants are expected to benefit from such assistance, at what average cost per participant. [30488]
Mr. Andrew Smith:
Help to raise basic skills will be available to young people on the New Deal for 18-24 year olds during the Gateway and in each of the options, according to individual circumstances and needs. Help to enhance basic skills will be available to every New Deal participant who needs it, as we intend to tailor provision to meet individual needs. We do not have numerical targets for the numbers who will benefit from basic skills related provision.
The New Deal for long term unemployed people aged 25 or over will focus on helping people who have been unemployed for two years or more to find work. The programme also contains provision for people to enhance their skills to help their return to work. This may include help with basic skills.
Mr. Willetts:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if (a) jobmatch and (b) jobfinders grant will continue within the framework of New Deal. [30492]
Mr. Andrew Smith:
Since April 1997, the jobmatch programme has been available to 18-24 year olds who have been unemployed for two years or more. Within the New Deal for 18-24 year olds, jobmatch will be available during the Gateway to help young people who have been
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unemployed for one year or more move into the employment option. In addition, local New Deal partnerships will be able if they choose to provide jobmatch opportunities through the New Deal follow- through strategies for young people who, having completed New Deal options, continue to need additional help to find work.
Jobfinder's grants will continue to be available to those aged 25 and over who have been unemployed for two years or more. Each local New Deal partnership has the discretion to provide grants to very long-term unemployed people aged 18-24.
Mr. Touhig:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what opportunities will be available for young unemployed people to take up work in the voluntary sector as part of the New Deal. [30370]
Mr. Andrew Smith:
I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Kettering (Mr. Sawford) on 22 December 1997, Official Report, column 507. Young people are already being helped to take up work in the voluntary sector in the New Deal Pathfinder areas. Examples of work that participants are currently doing include working at a local Citizens Advice Bureau in Swansea; working in a local charity shop in Cornwall; working on a Prince's Trust Volunteers' project in Lambeth; and conservation work in Tayside with the Scottish Wildlife Trust. All are receiving training towards approved qualifications.
Mr. Laurence Robertson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the cost to the Government of the New Deal advertisements (a) on television and (b) in other media. [31395]
Mr. Andrew Smith:
From the start of the advertising in mid February until June, it is planned to spend: £5 million on TV advertising; £500,000 on national press advertising; £340,000 on local radio; and £100,000 on local press advertising in June.
Mr. Chaytor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many lone parents in Bury, North he estimates will participate in the New Deal (a) by 1 April and (b) in the course of 1998-99. [29924]
Mr. Andrew Smith:
It is not possible to predict exactly the number of lone parents who will participate in the New Deal for Lone Parents, since participation is voluntary. The service will however be available to all lone parents on Income Support from October 1998. In November 1995 there were around 3,000 lone parents on Income Support in Bury as a whole.
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