Written question asked by Ralph Howell (Conservative), in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 12 November 1996. It was answered by Eric Forth (Conservative) on Tuesday, 12 November 1996 on behalf of the Department for Education and Employment.

Dept for Education and Employment

Question: If she will make a progress report on the Project Work Pilot schemes.

Answer: Sir Ralph Howell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a progress report on the project work pilot schemes. [3285] Mr. Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has to extend the project work pilots; and if she will make a statement. [3237] Mr. Forth: I am very encouraged by the results of the two current pilots of project work, which having been running since April in Hull and Medway and Maidstone. The latest information indicates that around 25 per cent. more people are leaving the unemployment register in the pilot areas than in comparable areas. Based on this encouraging evidence, the Secretary of State announced on 7 November that the project work approach was to be extended early next year to around 100,000 people in a wide range of locations in England, Scotland and Wales. The full list of areas in which the pilot will run is as follows: Travel-to-work areas to be covered by the further pilots of the project work approach Bath Bolton and Bury Bradford Brighton Bristol Derby Dudley and Sandwell Dundee Dunfermline Edinburgh Grimsby Hertford and Harlow Huddersfield Lanarkshire Leicester London, East and North-east Merthyr and Rhymney Neath and Port Talbot Norwich Nottingham Peterborough Portsmouth Preston South Tyneside Stoke Swansea Weston Super Mare Wigan and St. Helens The existing pilots, in Hull and Medway and Maidstone will also continue beyond July 1997.

Secondary information