Young People (Hansard, 23 October 1989)

§ 10. Mr. Wallace
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what further measures are planned to ensure the financial security of young people.

§ Mr. Scott
By developing the youth training scheme, which now offers over 500,000 places, we have provided the means for young people under 18 to ensure their own financial security. Income support remains available for those who are not able to take up a place on the sceme and" since July, 16 and 17-year-olds who have to live independently can get extra help through the income support and housing benefit scheme.

§ Mr. Wallace
Has the Minister of State, or his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, had an opportunity to read the letter sent to the Secretary of State last month by the Scottish Council for Single Homeless, which, although welcoming the July changes as a step in the right direction, found the sums inadequate to allow young people who are estranged from their parents to have a living? Regrettably, the reality is that some young people have to move away from home. Will the Minister consider two specific proposals—an estrangement premium, to bring income support levels for young people up to the level for those over 25, and a re-examination of social fund rules so that young people may claim deposits which many landlords and landladies require before they will give them accommodation?

§ Mr. Scott
Of course we continue to monitor the effects of these provisions. The level of income support for 18 to 25-year-olds is set to reflect the lower earnings expectations of people at the age compared with those over the age of 25. In those circumstances, social security 469 officers seek to provide evidence for the person concerned that they young person will be on income support and will therefore be in receipt of benefit in due course and, if necessary to liaise with landlords to reassure them of that fact.

§ Mr. Paice
Does my right hon. Friend agree that the best way to ensure the financial security of young people is for their parents to help them by advising them to do everything they can to secure a beneficial career? As there is now plenty of access to training and further and higher education, that is the way to long-term financial security.

§ Mr. Scott
I am sure of that, and that is the most desirable outcome. We have to recognise, however, that there will be some young people who, for one reason or another, are unable to be with their parents or who are suffering severe hardship for other reasons. That is why we have improved the situation for them.

§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
What is the Minister doing to help 19-year-olds in full-time education completing their A-level course, whose parents lose child benefit when they reach the age of 19, and who are not themselves eligible for any benefit? When such parents receive income support, they will also lose any allowance for their children from that source. Now these people will be faced with the poll tax. Is it not disgraceful that the Government give no encouragement to people to complete A-level courses and so benefit themselves and the community?

§ Mr. Scott
As we all know, local education authorities have the power to pay educational maintenance allowances to people in that situation. It is for the education system, rather than the social security system, to provide such money.