24. To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of his Department’s connecting communities programme. (312972)

We are commissioning a national evaluation of the effectiveness and impact of the connecting communities programme. This will be conducted in two phases, the first phase reporting at the end of June 2010, and the second phase reporting at the end of December 2010.

Early monitoring through Government offices show a real appetite for the programme at a local level and good early indications of delivery.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local authorities have used his Department’s connecting communities programme to place people seeking work in vacancies offered under the future jobs fund. (312968)

The connecting communities programme is providing support to those communities most vulnerable as a result of the recession, focusing on issues of jobs, homes, crime and antisocial behaviour and opportunities for young people.

There are early indications that the programme is helping people benefit from the Future Jobs Fund. For example, in Nottingham, Aspley neighbourhood, a scheme is being developed to train people to mentor 96 long-term unemployed people who are being supported under the Future Jobs Fund. Last week I visited Athersley and New Lodge in Barnsley and saw how practical actions taken through connecting communities had already helped 16 people from the St. Helens ward access employment.