§ Mrs. LaitTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he intends to amend the actively seeking work rules for unemployed blind people; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ScottMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has today laid regulations before Parliament which will help unemployed blind people who wish to undertake a training course in the use of a guide dog. Such courses significantly improve the employment prospects of blind people. The effect of the regulations will be to remove an anomaly in the actively seeking work rules which might have deterred some blind people from undertaking training. In particular, blind people who have taken a holiday for up to two weeks earlier in the year will, when the regulations come into effect on 17 December, be free to undertake a course without the risk of a benefit sanction.