HC Deb 07 February 2000 vol 344 cc16-7
10. Mr. Ben Bradshaw (Exeter)

What measures his Department has taken to reduce barriers in the benefits system to education for lone parents. [107197]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Social Security (Angela Eagle)

The benefits system provides support for lone parents who take up education and training. Time spent on study does not affect their benefit. Lone parents on the new deal may also get help with course fees, travel expenses and the cost of child care while attending approved work-focused training or education.

Mr. Bradshaw

Does my hon. Friend accept that counting the student loan as income rather than money that must be paid back can pose a particular problem for mature students? If she cannot change that rule, will she describe the extra help that she and her colleagues in the Department for Education and Employment may make available to help people who want to improve themselves through education in order to get back into work?

Angela Eagle

This year, the total budget for child care access funds in education colleges is £25 million, which is almost three times the amount made available last year. There is extra student support in higher education—£12 million in the current year—through access funds, too. The DFEE has announced that it will be introducing in due course means-tested child care grants for parents who want to study. So we realise that this is an issue, and we are tackling it.

Mr. Crispin Blunt (Reigate)

What percentage of single parents successfully getting a job following invitation for interviews under the new deal for lone parents does the Minister regard as a good return for investment in the scheme?

Angela Eagle

There are more than 32,000 lone parents in jobs who would not have been given any help by the Conservative party. Any lone parent getting a job is a benefit. In due course, we shall be publishing an analysis of the new deal for lone parents. A report on the pilot project, which is due at the end of the month, will show that the scheme has covered 90 per cent. of its costs. All those 32,000 lone parents with a job have children, and they came from workless households. They are now in households with work, and that is how we shall tackle child poverty.