THE government's much-trumpeted 'New Deal' for jobless youngsters will probably help just 360 people on East Lancashire's dole queue, claim employment experts.

Under the Welfare To Work scheme, to be introduced in April, people aged 18-24 will no longer be able to claim benefit and sit at home.

They will have to take one of four options: subsidised employment, voluntary work, a place with an environmental task force, or full-time education or training.

The Employment Service estimates that 40 per cent of the area's 600 unemployed young people will get an ordinary job rather than take up the New Deal. But Burnley's economic development unit says the New Deal is important despite the low number of people it will help.

"It could be argued that too much effort and time is being spent on New Deal," says economic development unit chief Hugh Simpson.

"However, after the youth programme are the over-25-year-olds, single-parents and disabled programmes, which could follow the same basic principles.

"This makes it critical that the youth programme is managed and delivered successfully."

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