asked the Paymaster General what is the latest estimate of the cost of the advertising campaign for the restart scheme (a) nationally and (b) in Stoke on Trent.

[pursuant to his reply, 19 February]: A wide range of Manpower Services Commission schemes have been advertised on television in connection with the restart programme at a total estimated cost of £11·2 million. This advertising expenditure represents less than 1 per cent. of the total expenditure on the schemes. I have no means of knowing what proportion of this expenditure relates to Stoke-on-Trent.The purpose of this expenditure is to prepare unemployed people for the invitation to a restart interview and to introduce them to the wide range of opportunities that the programme offers. This helps the take-up of the programme and improves the motivation and expectations of those who take part in it.

asked the Paymaster General (1) what estimates he has of the proportion of advertising for the restart scheme in relation to (a) each employer who makes a positive commitment to take part in the scheme and (b) each employee participating in the scheme;(2) how many employers have made a positive commitment to take part in the restart scheme.

[pursuant to his reply, 19 February]: Under the restart programme long-term unemployed people are invited to counselling interviews at jobcentres at which the discussion focusses on their individual needs and the best way for them to get into employment or self employment. Employers are not therefore directly involved in the restart programme and the beneficiaries of restart interviews are long-term unemployed people, not employees.