To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what her most recent estimate is of the number of (a) short-term job outcomes defined as 13 weeks of employment and (b) sustained job outcomes defined as 26 weeks employment likely to be achieved by flexible new deal providers for Phase 1 in (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2010-11. (277222)

The performance offers of each provider for the flexible new deal (FND) contracts are commercially sensitive. We have notified bidders of the results of the FND competition and we intend to award contracts in good time to begin delivery in October 2009.