§ 59. Sir D. Walker-Smithasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will review the arrangements for payment of training allowances to women in receipt of widowed mother's allowances to ensure that these do not act as a deterrent to entering upon training courses.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerI am advised by the Manpower Services Commission that trainees in receipt of widowed mother's allowance who take courses under the Training Opportunities Scheme (TOPS) have the option of a full training allowance or a full widowed mother's allowance plus an abated training allowance of £3.50 per week, whichever is more favourable. The abated allowance was introduced in October 1973 as an encouragement to widows to take training. The whole range of allowances payable to trainees including the abated allowance paid to widowed mothers is kept under regular review.