To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps he is taking to ensure that the (a) Environmental Task Force providers, (b) the voluntary sector and (c) ethnic minority organisations within the New Deal are fully involved in the delivery and provision of the New Deal; and if he will make a statement. [34424]

The Employment Service has ensured that the Environment Task Force providers, the voluntary sector and ethnic minority organisations have been fully involved in the development and delivery of New Deal. We have taken particular care to ensure that these groups have been fully represented both in national consultations on the design of New Deal and in local partnerships, which have planned and are now setting in place delivery arrangements. We value their support and will continue to work closely with them as New Deal rolls out nationally.