To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many former employees of Woolworths have undertaken government retraining courses; and how many of these have since been employed in the role for which they were retrained. (274056)

[holding answer 8 May 2009]: Jobcentre Plus do not record outcomes for former employees of particular employers who have found work or taken part in Government funded training. The costs of this would be prohibitive.

DWP’s rapid response service to support people facing redundancy; part of which offers focused training for those requiring training or certification; was provided to almost all Woolworths’ staff before store closure, in conjunction with on site benefits advice and support on job search.