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New Deal
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate he has made of the average total net cost or gain to the Exchequer of (a) an individual finding sustained unsubsidised employment of 13 weeks or more after leaving the gateway, (b) an individual finding sustained unsubsidised employment of 13 weeks or more after completing one of the options, (c) an individual on follow-through, (d) an individual leaving the gateway to be transferred to another benefit or to return to jobseeker's allowance and (e) an individual completing and leaving an option to be transferred to another benefit or to return to jobseeker's allowance. [102115]
Ms Jowell [holding answer 9 December 1999]: There is a comprehensive evaluation programme in place for the new deal for young unemployed which will be addressing issues such as this. The impact of the new deal on an individual's employability at each stage is one of the evaluation answers. However, I am advised that precise weighting of the respective benefit of each stage is likely to be difficult. Most evaluation is still in progress and is yet to report. Early evidence suggests a positive effect on outflows of young people from unemployment into jobs. Further quantitative evaluation on the impact of new deal for young unemployed will be published shortly and will be placed in the Library.
Mr. Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many young people have gained employment through the new deal in each constituency. [102589]
Ms Jowell: We plan to produce and publish summary statistics on the new deal for young people, for every Parliamentary constituency, in the new year. These will demonstrate our good progress towards meeting our Manifesto commitment of 250,000 young people into jobs under the new deal for young people.
Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people have joined the new deal in the (i) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, (ii) Middlesbrough, (iii) Redcar, (iv) Stockton North, (v) Stockton South and (vi) Hartlepool constituencies since the national launch. [102481]
Ms Jowell: To the end of September 1999 the numbers of people who have joined the new deals for young people and long-term unemployed people aged 25 or over for each constituency are as follows:
| New deal | ||
|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 25 plus | |
| Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland | 896 | 572 |
| Middlesbrough | 1,632 | 1,037 |
| Redcar | 1,114 | 631 |
| Stockton North | 1,055 | 292 |
| Stockton South | 712 | 152 |
| Hartlepool | 1,007 | 284 |
It is encouraging that over 2,800 people have found jobs through these new deals and that we are well on target to meet our commitment of helping 250,000 young people into jobs.
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Mr. Crausby:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to encourage the growth of co-operatives. [102483]
Ms Jowell
[holding answer 13 December 1999]: The Government welcome all types of business organisation, including co-operatives, which can meet the needs of employers, individuals and customers. This reflects the Government's key objectives of achieving high and stable levels of overall growth and employment, and a flexible and adaptable labour market.
The UK's low inflation and stable macroeconomy, and its policies to promote competition, innovation and enterprise, aim to foster the conditions in which new jobs can be created, whether by co-operatives or by other types of organisation.
Through the new deal, we are also forging partnerships with a wide range of non-government organisations, including community based organisations and other intermediaries who can co-operate in the task of helping jobless people back to work. A £5 million fund has also been established to support intermediary organisations in eleven cities, who can demonstrate they have effective links with employers and can help jobless people into work.
Mr. Jim Cunningham:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of school and college performance in 1999. [103195]
Jacqui Smith:
Full information on the performance in 1999 of schools and FE sector colleges in England was published recently in this year's school and college performance tables. The results in the tables show a clear trend of continuing improvements in the GCSE and GNVQ results of pupils in secondary schools and in the achievements of students in schools and FE sector colleges in GCE A levels and other advanced qualifications. The tables also show substantial and very welcome increases in the proportion of pupils at the end of their primary schooling reaching the level expected of them in National Curriculum tests.
The performance tables show what can be achieved by committed teachers and pupils, supported by effective national strategies. There is, of course, still much to do to reach our national targets for achievements in GCSEs and National Curriculum assessment by 2002, but we have the right foundations in place.
Mr. Webb:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will estimate the additional cost of extending access to free school meals to all primary school children. [103145]
Ms Estelle Morris:
Information on the cost of provision of free school meals is not collected separately and it is therefore not possible to provide the information requested.
Mr. Oaten:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will publish (a) the recommended
21 Dec 1999 : Column: 549W
targets set and (b) the actual outcomes achieved by the Student Loans Company for processing loan claims in 1998. [102983]
Mr. Wicks
[holding answer 16 December 1999]: The target set for the Student Loans Company for processing loan claims in 1998-99 academic year under the new loans scheme was
Mr. Willis:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will estimate the (a) number of students in receipt of student loans and (b) value of student loans to be paid, in (i) 1999-2000, (ii) 2000-2001 and (iii) 2001-02, [102878]
Mr. Wicks
[holding answer 16 December 1999]: On the basis of the number of students who have taken out loans this year, we estimate that in the region of 700,000 UK students will take out loans to a UK value of £1,400 million this financial year. Figures for future years are not yet available.
Mr. Boswell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many students have not received in full their entitlement to student loans this autumn; how many have received partial advances; and if he will make a statement on the overall operation of the student support system. [103120]
Mr. Wicks:
There have been 381,000 applications from students for a loan. 374,000 cheques have been issued to students to date, the remaining applications, which are nearly all from students who applied only recently, are being processed, half of these have failed validation checks. Students are able to borrow up to their full entitlement to support on two occasions during the academic year if they choose to do so. It is not possible to identify the number of applicants who have so far applied for less than their full entitlement.
All parties involved in the provision of Student Support have worked well to implement the new arrangements effectively.
Mr. Field:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when the first qualitative evaluation of the ONE service pilots will be available; and if he will place a copy in the Library. [103004]
21 Dec 1999 : Column: 550W
Ms Jowell
[holding answer 16 December 1999]: The first qualitative results from the ONE evaluation should be available in autumn 2000. Once received, final versions of the reports take around eight weeks to publish. Copies of the reports will be placed in the Library.
"to pay 100 per cent. of loan applications within 14 calendar days of receiving an application form excluding (a) any excess time (beyond two working days) that it takes HEIs to submit eligibility certificates; and (b) any time taken to receive additional information from borrowers or HEIs".
For the old loans scheme, the target set for 1998-99 was
"to pay 100 per cent of loans within 21 days of receiving an actionable application form, excluding (a) any excess time (beyond two working days) that it takes HEIs to submit eligibility certificates and borrowers to receive and return credit agreements and (b) to obtain additional or corrected information from borrowers or HEIs."
The outturn figures for 1998-99 AY are not yet available. In 1997-98 AY, the Company achieved an outturn of 99.3 per cent. against a target of 98 per cent. of loans to be paid within 21 days.
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