§ Mr. Ron Daviesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if the new rules for mortgage payments for the unemployed will apply to job training scheme trainees who do not find employment following the end of their training; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MajorThe main change contained in the Supplementary Benefit (Housing Requirements and Resources) Amendment Regulations 1987 (SI 1987 No. 17)—to limit to 50 per cent. the amount included for mortgage interest in the supplementary benefit assessment of people under 60—only applies for the first 16 weeks on benefit. Subject to any other changes in circumstances, trainees on the job training scheme will receive the same income by way of training allowance and supplementary benefit while on the course as they received previously in benefit alone. Those who do not find work after training and whose circumstances are unchanged will normally get the same rate of benefit that they received before starting the course.