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Dept for Education and Skills

Answer

Mr. Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what (a) representations and (b) discussions he has had in the last 12 months with (i) Connexions and (ii) other agencies on young people aged between 16 and 24 who are not in work, education, training or a new deal programme; what estimate he has made of the number of young people who fell into that category in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [139446] Margaret Hodge: We have had no representations from Connexions or other agencies on this matter. We have set the Connexions service a target to reduce the number of 16 to 18-year-olds who are not in education, employment or training by 10 per cent. by November 2004. The baseline date from which this will be measured is November 2002. The New Deal for Young People is the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. Entry is mandatory for all 18 to 24-year-olds who have been claiming Jobseeker's Allowance continuously for six months. The scheme has helped nearly 450,000 young people move into work. According to estimates from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) around 700,000 or 12.25 per cent. of 16 to 25-year-olds in England were not in Employment, Education or Training in winter 2002-03. Around a third of these were women with dependent children.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

139446; 413 c1500W;413 c1496W

Session

2002-03

Subjects

Advisory services Young people Unemployment New deal for young people Connexions Service

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk