HC Deb 20 December 1983 vol 51 cc119-20W
Mr. Bottomley

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will announce the results of the review of the rates of allowance payable under both the full-time and part-time job release schemes; and whether there will be changes in the rules of the full-time scheme from 1 April 1984.

Mr. Allan Clark

Following the review of the rates of allowance under the job release scheme, the allowances which will apply from 9 April 1984 are as follows:

FULL-TIME SCHEME For disabled men aged 60, 61, 62 and 63 (and for men who have joined the scheme at ages 62 and 63) who are married with a dependent wife whose net income from all sources does not exceed £13 a week, £70.55 a week, taxable, for all others £75.35 a week, taxable. For women aged 59 and men aged 64 who are married with a dependent spouse whose net income from all sources does not exceed £13 a week, £60.65 a week, tax free; for all others £48 a week, tax free.

PART-TIME SCHEME For disabled men aged 60 and 61 and men aged 62 and 63 who are married with a dependent wife whose net income from all sources does not exceed £13 a week, £35.30 a week, taxable; for all others £28.65 a week, taxable. For women aged 59 and men aged 64 who are married with a dependent spouse whose net income from all sources does not exceed £13 a week, £30.35 a week, tax free; for all others £24 a week, tax free.

The allowances paid to men aged 64 and women aged 59 under both schemes are tax free because under section 30 of the Finance Act 1977 only those job release allowances paid for more than a year are taxable.

It has already been announced—[Vol. 40, c. 424]—that from 1 April 1984 the full-time job release scheme will be available only to women aged 59, men aged 64 and disabled men aged 60 to 63. The other rules of the scheme will remain unchanged for the time being.