Written question asked by Baroness May of Maidenhead (Conservative) on Thursday, 23 April 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 27 April 2009. It was answered by Tony McNulty (Labour) on Monday, 15 June 2009 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

New Deal Schemes

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether participants who have not finished their existing New Deal programme by the end of September 2009 will be referred to the flexible New Deal in those areas covered by phase 1 Flexible New Deal contracts.

Answer: In the 28 districts where Flexible New Deal is due to start from October 2009, DWP has agreed contractual changes with New Deal providers, including those in private sector-led New Deal areas and Employment Zones, to ensure that customers who are referred after April 2009 will be able to complete their provision by the end of September 2009.Where it has not been possible for a jobseeker to complete existing New Deal provision by September 2009, provided there is no break in their Jobseeker's Allowance claim, the customer will enter the supported job-search stage of the new Jobseekers Regime to receive additional support from Jobcentre Plus personal advisers. The supported job-search stage usually lasts for six months, although in this instance the time spent with an existing New Deal provider would be taken into account. Should the jobseeker remain unemployed after the supported job-search stage, they will be referred to the Flexible New Deal for up to 12 months of specialist, individually-tailored support.

Secondary information