§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if the date of last claims criteria for training for work is still in force; and what are the numbers of training for work applicants rejected under this criterion. [4748]
§ Mr. PaiceFollowing discussions with training and enterprise councils and the Employment Service, the Government have announced plans to change from date of claim to an alternative measure of unemployment duration for funding purposes from 1 February next year. Eligibility for the programme is not based on this criterion, so no applicants will have been rejected on this basis.