§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will review his decision to reduce the period of entitlement from nine to six months under the temporary short-time working compensation scheme; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Michael AlisonNo. It is the responsibility of the Government to determine the maximum period of support, and this we have done, taking account of all the representations we have received, our experience with the scheme, the incidence of short-time working, and our financial priorities.
The reduction of the period of entitlement from nine to six months will not come into effect until July this year.
I have no present plans to add to the statement made to the House on 15 December 1981, concerning the scheme.