Written question asked by Jeffrey M Donaldson (Ulster Unionist Party) on Wednesday, 15 January 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 20 January 2003. It was answered by Jane Kennedy (Labour) on Monday, 20 January 2003 on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office.

Northern Ireland Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the costs per participant are on (a) the Northern Ireland Employment Support Programme and (b) the Workstep programme in Great Britain. - Inc figures.

Answer: Mr. Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the costs per participant are on (a) the Northern Ireland Employment Support Programme and (b) the Workstep programme in Great Britain. [91850] Jane Kennedy: The costs per participant on the Employment Support programme in Northern Ireland were approximately £5,500 in 2001-02, the latest year for which figures are available. This figure includes the wage subsidy paid to employers to take account of the disabled workers assessed output and the fee paid to the sponsor organisations that deliver the programme on behalf of the Department. The costs per participant on the Workstep programme in GB in 2001-02 were £3,800. This amount is paid at a flat rate to delivery organisations with no account taken of the level of wages paid or the severity of the disability of the worker. The delivery mechanism and funding arrangements for the Employment Support programme in Northern Ireland are presently under review and a public consultation was carried out at the end of 2002.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 91850; 398 c110W;398 c111W
Session: 2002-03
Subjects: Disability Employment Employment schemes Northern Ireland Per capita costs Workstep
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk