Written question asked by Lord Willis of Knaresborough (Liberal Democrat) on Friday, 28 March 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 14 April 2003. It was answered by Nicholas Brown (Labour) on Monday, 14 April 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 the guidelines are for implementation of the (a) employer option, (b) Environmental Task Force Option and (c) Voluntary Sector Option of the New Deal for Young People; what guidance his Department issues to employers on the application of the national minimum wage to participants in the (a) employer option, (b) environmental task force option and (c) voluntary sector option of the New Deal for Young People. - Inc figure. (Holding answer 8 April 2003).

Answer: Mr. Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what the guidelines are for implementation of the (a) employer option, (b) Environmental Task Force Option and (c) Voluntary Sector Option of the New Deal for Young People; [106655] (2) what guidance his Department issues to employers on the application of the national minimum wage to participants in the (a) employer option, (b) environmental task force option and (c) voluntary sector option of the New Deal for Young People. [107847] Mr. Nicholas Brown: [holding answer 8 April 2003]: New Deal providers are issued with detailed guidance to support their delivery of the New Deal programme, which includes information on the national minimum wage. Many participants on the New Deal for Young People Environment Task Force and Voluntary Options do not receive a wage and are thus not covered by the National Minimum Wage Act 1998. These participants are paid a New Deal allowance equivalent to their jobseeker's allowance, plus a grant of £400 paid over the 26 weeks of the programme. Employers participating in the Employment Option and providers participating in the waged Environment Task Force or Voluntary Option enter into a contractual agreement with Jobcentre Plus. The agreement includes a requirement to comply with the requirements of the National Minimum Wage Act 1998.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 403 c649W;403 c649-50W; 106655;107847
Session: 2002-03
Subjects: Employment Employment schemes Minimum wage Young people Voluntary work New deal for young people Environmental task forces
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk