Fiscal Stimulus: Budget allocation to Education, Sport and Culture: Advance to Work Plus (20+ year old) & Careers Strengthening Schemes

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A decision made 17 January 2011 regarding: Fiscal Stimulus: Budget allocation to Education, Sport and Culture: Advance to Work Plus (20+ year old) & Careers Strengthening Schemes.

Decision Reference: MD-TR-2011-0005
Decision Summary Title:	Fiscal Stimulus Budget Allocation – Department for Education, Sport and Culture		Date of Decision Summary:	12th January, 2011
Decision Summary Author:	Treasurer of the States		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt?	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:	N/A
Written Report Title:	Fiscal stimulus funding for Advance to Work Plus ( 20+ year old) & Careers Strengthening schemes		Date of Written Report:	12th January, 2011
Written Report Author:	Acting - Fiscal Stimulus Programme Manager		Written Report : Public or Exempt?	Public
Subject: Fiscal Stimulus Plan: budget allocation to the Department for Education, Sport and Culture to enable the continuation of the Advance to Work Plus (20+ year olds) and Careers Strengthening schemes for the period January to September 2011.
Decision(s): The Minister approved the allocation of £393,650 from the Treasury & Resources Contingency Fund to the Department for Education, Sport and Culture (ESC) to enable the continuation of the Advance to Work Plus and Career Strengthening schemes for the period January to September 2011, to help those aged 20+, and actively seeking work, gain work experience and key skills to enable them to find employment. The Minister also agreed that ESC be allowed a temporary increase in headcount of 7 (6 FTE), between January and September 2011 in order to provide the two schemes. The Minister further instructed the Skills and Training project group to report on spend of all stimulus monies, and project progress/performance, on a monthly basis in accordance with guidelines set by the Treasury, and return any unspent monies on completion of the academic year.
Reason(s) for Decision: A discretionary fiscal stimulus allocation from the Stabilisation Fund of £44m has already been approved. The delivery of these skills initiatives meets the key criteria for fiscal stimulus being timely, targeted and temporary. These projects will benefit local individuals and help achieve the third and fourth objectives of the fiscal stimulus, being preparing the foundations for economic recovery through a more highly skilled workforce and achieving longer term economic benefits as well as the fiscal stimulus benefits in the short term. The £393,650 allocation to ESC will enable the department to assist a larger number of people, helping them improve their skills and gain qualifications during the recession when there are fewer employment opportunities available.
Resource Implications: No financial resource implications other than those explained above and in the accompanying report. ESC require a temporary increase in headcount of 7 (6 FTE), between January and September 2011.
Action required: The Fiscal Stimulus Programme Manager to inform the Department for Education, Sport and Culture and the Head of Financial Performance Reporting that this Decision has been approved.
Signature:		Position: Senator P F C Ozouf, Minister for Treasury and Resources
Date Signed:		Date of Decision: