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Dept for Work and Pensions

Answer

Dr. Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what action he has taken to raise awareness among Somalian residents of training opportunities provided by his Department; [195312] (2) what steps he has taken to increase employment opportunities for resident Somalian nationals. [195313] (3) if he will meet representatives of Somalian nationals to discuss integration into the UK employment market. [195315] Jane Kennedy: We are committed to providing a fair and equal service to all our customers, irrespective of their race or cultural background. At a local level, we consult widely with communities to raise awareness of the opportunities available, and to identify the most appropriate provision. Somali nationals resident in the UK have access to the full range of Jobcentre Plus services. People with basic skills needs, including English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), can, at their personal adviser's discretion, have early entry to training and employment programmes to support them into employment. These include the New Deal, which has already helped more than 111,000 ethnic minority people into work; as well as Work Based Learning for Adults, which offers people a range of occupational skills and gives them the opportunity of working towards a recognised qualification that will increase their chances of finding work. We also have a range of initiatives specifically aimed at increasing employment among ethnic minority groups. These include setting stretching job entry targets for areas with high ethnic minority populations; Ethnic Minority Outreach, which operates in similar areas and aims to help ethnic minority people with little or no contact with Jobcentre Plus to engage with our services and with the wider labour market; and the Ethnic Minority Flexible Fund, which provides funding for Jobcentre Plus at a local level to initiate innovative measures to help more ethnic minority people find work. I would be happy to arrange, in the first instance, a meeting between my officials and representatives of Somalian nationals to discuss their employment needs.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

426 c1326-7W;426 c1330-1W; 195312;195313;195315

Session

2003-04

Subjects

Employment schemes Ethnic groups Training Somalia

Link

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