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Abkhazia
Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Government policy towards Abkhazia. [89612]
Ms Quin: The British Government are active in seeking a peaceful and lasting solution to the conflict in the region of Abkhazia, Georgia. We are members of the group known as the Friends of the UN Secretary-General, which supports the parties in their efforts to find a negotiated settlement to the conflict. Most recently, the British Ambassador in Tbilisi joined representatives of the other Friends of the Secretary-General and the parties in UN-sponsored talks in Istanbul from 7 to 9 June. The UK currently has seven military observers in a UN mission (UNOMIG) monitoring the ceasefire in co-operation with the CIS Peacekeeping Force. The British Government fully support a solution to the conflict based on the territorial integrity of Georgia, and maximum autonomy for the region of Abkhazia.
The Ossetias
Mrs. Gillan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Government policy towards the Ossetias. [89610]
2 Jul 1999 : Column: 317
Ms Quin:
It is the policy of the British Government, together with the rest of the international community, to recognise the North Ossetian Autonomous Republic as part of the Russian Federation and the region of South Ossetia as part of Georgia. We fully support the efforts of the OSCE in South Ossetia to find a lasting settlement to the unresolved conflict in the region.
Mrs. Gillan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if it is his policy to encourage UK trade with Chechnya. [89613]
Ms Quin:
The dangerous security situation in Chechnya limits opportunities for trade. Our strong advice is that visitors, including British business people, should not travel there because of the security risks. If a British company wished to trade with Chechnya without its staff travelling to the region, we would provide our normal services to British exporters.
Mrs. Gillan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the effects of millennium compliance internationally on (a) 9 September 1999 and (b) 1 January 2000; and what measures he is taking to alleviate difficulties identified. [89608]
Mr. Hoon:
The Government fully recognise the potential problems that might occur as a result of date-related computer and embedded chip failures. That is why we are working closely with our international partners especially in the EU and with the G8 to minimise the potential impact both in the UK and overseas. The conclusions of the G8 and EU Heads of Government meetings that took place in June set out clearly our priorities. A copy of both sets of conclusions can be found in the Library of the House.
Mrs. Gillan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current level of cooperation with Russia on millennium compliance; what is his assessment of the (a) readiness and (b) cost of Russian compliance; and if Russian (i) ballistic missiles and (ii) power stations are millennium compliant. [89604]
Mr. Hoon:
As a member of the G8, Russia is working closely with its international partners to address the issue of millennium compliance across all sectors including energy and defence. It is not possible to give an accurate estimate of the costs involved. There is no evidence to suggest that ballistic missiles are affected by millennium date problems. The Russian electricity generation and distribution company has stated that it is increasingly confident that it will be able to continue to supply electricity over the date change period.
Mr. Loughton:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from his US counterpart following the
2 Jul 1999 : Column: 318
statement by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in China concerning the bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade. [89351]
Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the proportion of people participating in the Training and Education Option of the New Deal who obtain unsubsidised employment after completion of their training; and if he will make a statement. [89433]
Mr. Andrew Smith:
The latest Government Statistical Service figures show that, of the 42,100 young people who had entered full-time education and training by the end of April 1999, the majority--22,850 or 54 per cent.--were still on the option. Another 22 per cent.--or 9,270--were still on the New Deal and either on the point of entering another option or receiving intensive help to find a job. Of those young people who had left New Deal after participating in the FTET option, 54 per cent. with known destinations had entered jobs and roughly 27 per cent. of all leavers--including those who did not disclose a destination--had done so.
Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the future numbers of prospective New Deal recruits. [89432]
Mr. Andrew Smith:
I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Enfield, Southgate (Mr. Twigg) on 14 April 1999, Official Report, column 253.
Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on (a) the advertising and public relations costs incurred in the promotion of the New Deal for the long-term unemployed in 1998-99 and (b) his estimate of the cost in 1999-2000. [89427]
Mr. Andrew Smith:
The total cost of publicising New Deal for 18 to 24-year-olds and 25 plus in 1998-99 was £9,776,188 as shown in the Departmental Report. The current forecast of spend in 1999-2000 is £1,750,000. There is also a balance of £1,952,000 from 1998-99 that is available for years 1999-2000, 2000-01, 2001-02; with year end flexibility of the Windfall Tax.
Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what reports he receives on, and what assessment he has made of, the quality of recruits to the New Deal. [89425]
Mr. Andrew Smith:
New Deal Statistical First Releases are published monthly covering 18-24 and 25 plus long-term unemployed clients and lone parents. These Statistical Releases give a range of information on the characteristics of recruits to New Deal, including educational achievement on entry, length of time on benefit, special needs, disability and ethnic group.
2 Jul 1999 : Column: 319
In addition, the wider evaluation of New Deal includes qualitative studies of the experience of individuals, based on interviews at each stage of the New Deal process. Copies of published evaluation findings are held in the Library.
Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what independent assessment he has commissioned of the quality of information about the New Deal. [89426]
Mr. Andrew Smith:
Published statistics on the New Deal for unemployed people and the New Deal for Lone Parents are drawn from the New Deal Evaluation Database held by the Employment Service. These statistics are published under the auspices of the Government Statistical Service and conform to the standards laid out for the publication of official statistics--namely, that such statistics are processed, analysed, and disseminated in an unbiased, timely and independent manner.
In addition, the Database has been subject to rigorous internal checking with the result that no systematic errors have been identified. This conclusion is supported by a range of external contractors with whom the Database is shared.
Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what discussions he has had with representatives of the Employment Service about the number of employers to be contacted about the New Deal. [89564]
Mr. Andrew Smith:
As part of my regular discussions with the Employment Service on New Deal, a full and active campaign of advertising, mailshots and targeted direct contacts with employers was agreed.
Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the other known reasons for the departure of 9 per cent. of young New Deal participants as referred to in his Department's Statistical First Release /12/1999. [89418]
Mr. Andrew Smith:
The other known reasons for young people leaving New Deal as referred to in the Statistical First Release are:
2 Jul 1999 : Column: 320
Mr. Andrew Smith:
We are spreading best practice drawn from the successful experience of the increasing numbers already moving towards self-employment through New Deal.
Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps he proposes to take to increase the supply of New Deal recruits. [89423]
Mr. Andrew Smith:
Eligibility for the New Deal for Young People, and hence the number of young people taking part, is primarily determined by the number of young people who reach six months unemployment, although there is provision for early entry for young people with special needs including those with literacy and numeracy difficulties, disabled young people and ex-offenders.
Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the role of the Employment Service to date in the development of the New Deal. [89424]
Mr. Andrew Smith:
The Employment Service has played a central role in getting the New Deal off to a good start: the total number of young people going into jobs had by the end of April 1999 reached 105,000; in addition over 70,000 young people have been helped to improve their employability through training and work experience; and more than 50,000 employers have signed up to support New Deal. These encouraging achievements reflect the great efforts which the Employment Service and its partners are putting into the New Deal.
Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the level of administration required to be carried out by employers for the operation of the New Deal. [89565]
Mr. Andrew Smith:
The administration required of employers who are supporting New Deal was designed to keep bureaucracy to a minimum, while providing an audit trail to ensure public funds are protected and Value for Money achieved. We keep administrative process under review including examination by external consultants.
Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to change the respective shares of resources for the New Deal to be allocated to those aged (i) under and (ii) over 25 years. [89420]
Mr. Andrew Smith:
The precise allocation of resources between our Welfare to Work programmes are kept under constant review. They are altered when necessary in light of experience of the programmes and labour market developments.
Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what recent representations he has received from (a) the Trades Union Congress, (b) the Forum of Private Business, (c) the CBI, (d) the British Chamber of Commerce and (e) the Federation of Small Businesses regarding the New Deal for the long term unemployed; and what assessment he has made of them. [89428]
Mr. Andrew Smith:
The Department maintains a continuing dialogue on the New Deal with a wide range of organisations including those representing businesses large and small, and trade unions. The Government also
2 Jul 1999 : Column: 321
receive valuable advice from the New Deal Task Force, chaired by Sir Peter Davis, and which includes members drawn from business, trade unions and the voluntary sector.
Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps he is taking to increase the participation of (a) his Department and (b) other Government Departments in the New Deal. [89431]
Mr. Andrew Smith:
We have taken a number of steps to increase further New Deal participation by Government Departments. These include exchanging information and good practice through Departmental Establishment Officers, setting up a sub-group of the New Deal Task Force to propose ways to strengthen public sector involvement, and providing support and advice from the
2 Jul 1999 : Column: 322
Employment Service. A number of Departments are also participating by working closely with New Deal in its promotion to key service and industrial sectors, eg construction, hospitality, retailing and manufacturing.
Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many invitations he and his departmental colleagues have received to speak on the continuation of grammar schools; and if he will make a statement. [89566]
Ms Estelle Morris:
Ministers receive numerous invitations to speak on a variety of subjects. It is for local parents to decide whether or not they wish grammar schools to continue their current admission arrangements.
gone abroad
claimant deceased
entered full-time education (other than as a New Deal option)
approved training
starting non-New Deal Government Supported Training
in prison/custody
attending court
on the witness protection programme
partner working
partner claiming
client signed off voluntarily due to a fraud investigation
client signed off when a JSA disallowance applied
or client is over the maximum savings.
Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps he is taking to increase the number of people who became self-employed after completing their participation in the New Deal. [89429]