To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role his Department is playing in the New Deal for the young unemployed. [15638]

My Department is keen to play a full part in the Government's New Deal initiative, and a number of exploratory meetings have taken place with officials from the Department for Education and Employment on how best the MOD can contribute. My Department intends to concentrate mainly on the Gateway stage of the Scheme. We are, at the same time, encouraging those who will be involved in providing training for these young people to include self-development courses and briefings on the Armed Forces.