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The Government’s long-term goal is employment opportunity for all. It aims to promote a dynamic and flexible labour market in which everyone has the opportunity to fulfil their potential. Since 1997, the New Deal has helped nearly 694,000 young people into jobs and has helped to provide greater employment opportunities for people who find it harder to obtain jobs, such as lone parents and people with a health condition or disability. Employment has risen by almost 2.5 million in that time and unemployment has fallen to 5.6 per cent.

The Government has introduced reforms to improve work incentives and provide support for those on low incomes. Introduced in April 2003, the Working Tax Credit helps to make work pay for people on low incomes and is currently helping 2.2 million working families. The adult rate of the National Minimum Wage is now £5.35. The Government is now taking further steps to deliver higher employment across the country by:

• extending the support offered to help lone parents into employment, with the continuation of the In-Work Credit in current pilot areas;

• improving Jobseeker’s Allowance by offering expert support when new claims are made and extending the Job-Grant to 18-24 year old jobseekers; and

• improving enforcement of the National Minimum Wage by increasing by 50 per cent the resources allocated to tackle non-compliance.

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