To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the (a) terms of reference, (b) membership, (c) programme of work and (d) opportunities for input from the public and others are for the review team on disadvantaged communities chaired by Stephen Houghton announced on 28 May 2008. (212247)

The Tackling Worklessness Review will:

Examine how local authorities and their partners are using the Working Neighbourhoods Fund to tackle worklessness within their worst performing neighbourhoods;

Identify what more central Government departments can do to support local partners to deliver better employment and skills services for their residents and employers;

Consider how the private sector, social enterprises and third sector groups, and the Regional Development Agencies can help local partners to improve employment in Working Neighbourhood Fund areas and through the new Local Performance Framework; and

Report the group's findings to the Minister for Employment and Welfare Reform, my right hon. Friend the Member for East Ham (Mr. Timms) and the Minister for Local Government, my hon. Friend the Member for Wentworth (John Healey) by October 2008, to be followed by the publication of the group's final report.

Councillor Stephen Houghton will chair the review. He will be joined by representatives from social enterprise (Claire Dove) and the private sector (Steve Olive) as well as senior Government officials.

As the first meeting scoping the group has yet to take place (scheduled for 25 June) information on the programme of work and opportunities for input from the public and others is not yet available.