§ Mrs. Chalkerasked the Secretary of State for Employment under what circumstances jobcentres are empowered to assist with the travelling expenses of unemployed persons to attend interviews
§ Mr. GoldingI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that, under the Job Search Scheme, local offices of the Employment Service Agency are empowered to provide unemployed workers, or those under threat of redundancy, with free return fares for interviews for jobs beyond daily travelling distance of home, subject to certain eligibility conditions.
In the case of disabled people, repayment of travelling expenses, limited to the cost of the cheapest appropriate public transport, may be made, including fares incurred for short journeys if it would be a hardship to walk.