§ Ms. MowlamTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many 16 and 17-year-olds were in receipt of bridging allowance at the end of October 1988, November 1988, December 1988, January 1989, February 1989 and March 1989.
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§ Mr. ViggersIt is estimated that the following numbers were in receipt of bridging allowance in each relevant month:
Number October 1988 914 November 1988 808 December 1988 807 January 1989 895 February 1989 458 March 1989 344
§ Ms. MowlamTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many 16 and 17-year-olds currently receive income support and bridging allowance.
§ Mr. ViggersAt the end of March 344 persons were receiving bridging allowance and there are currently three claimants receiving income support under the severe hardship provisions. No figures are available for those receiving income support under the normal rules.
§ Ms. MowlamTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many 16 and 17-year-olds who previously received income support were transferred to bridging allowance after new benefit rules were introduced in September.
§ Mr. ViggersA total of 986 young people were transferred to bridging allowance from income support.
§ Ms. MowlamTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will explain the methods being used to provide publicly available information on 16 and 17-year-olds who remain unemployed after the ending of the bridging allowance payments or extended child benefit.
§ Mr. ViggersNo such information is currently made available.
§ Ms. MowlamTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people of YTS eligible age, registered with jobcentres or the careers service were awaiting an offer of a YTS place at the end of October 1988, November 1988, December 1988, January 1989, February 1989 and March 1989; and of them, how many were receiving bridging allowance or extended child benefit or income support or a severe hardship grant from the social fund.
§ Mr. ViggersThe information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
§ Ms. MowlamTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will provide figures for the number of young people no longer on bridging allowance who have not yet been allocated a YTS place.
§ Mr. ViggersThe number of young people no longer receiving bridging allowance who have not yet been allocated a YTP place is 140. Some of these young people have been submitted to YTP schemes and results are awaited.