Written question asked by Jimmy Wray (Labour) on Wednesday, 15 October 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 10 November 2003. It was answered by Lord Browne of Ladyton (Labour) on Monday, 10 November 2003 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Dept for Work and Pensions

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what back-to-work support is available for people aged over 50; and how many people over 50 have been put back into work through Government initiatives since 1997. - Includes figures.

Answer: Mr. Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what back-to-work support is available for people aged over 50; and how many people over 50 have been put back into work through Government initiatives since 1997. [132948] Mr. Browne: We are providing a wide range of services through Jobcentre Plus to help people aged over 50 looking for work. This includes job-search help and advice, training, and claiming in-work financial support. Well over 120,000 people aged over 50 have been helped back to work through Government programmes, such as New Deal 50 plus, since they began to be introduced in 1998. These programmes have helped to increase the employment rate of older workers by 5.4 per cent. from 64.7 per cent. in the spring of 1997 to 70.1 per cent. in the spring of 2003.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 413 c141W; 132948
Session: 2002-03
Subjects: Advisory services Employment Older workers Take-up Jobclubs New deal for 50 plus
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk