§ Mr. Craigenasked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the estimated net savings to date to the Government due to persons being removed from the unemployment register under the job-splitting scheme; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkThe job-splitting scheme is designed to be broadly self-financing and it is estimated that no more is paid out in grants than is saved in benefits. We believe that the scheme is a valuable experiment and, as I stated on 17 November—[Vol. 48, c.552]—it has been extended for a further year and will now close for applications on 31 March 1985.