Prescott cooking up a scheme

John Prescott is going into catering. The Deputy Prime Minister is following in the footsteps of celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, who transformed 15 unemployed people into competent cooks.

Chez Prescott will take 12 long-term unemployed young people and transform them into gourmet chefs in a £2.5 million government-backed restaurant.

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will invest £475,000 in the Hoxton-Apprentice. Prue Leith, the restaurateur and cookery writer, will oversee the venue in Shoreditch.

Although profits will be given to a charity for the unemployed and homeless, Ms Leith admitted: "People won't come because it is a good-hearted venture. We aim to deliver delicious food in a stylish environment."