§ Mr. Fosterasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what financial and manpower savings he 40W anticipates making within his Department as a result of the proposed change of regulations that would prevent school leavers from claiming unemployment benefit until the September after they have left school.
§ Mrs. ChalkerI assume that the hon. Member is referring to the new supplementary benefit rules for school leavers which came into effect in November 1980 as part of the reform of the supplementary benefit scheme. This particular change was estimated to save £4 million net a year and 220 staff. The reform involved a redistribution of resources within the supplementary benefit scheme and these savings are being used for improvements elsewhere in the scheme.