§ Mr. SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many of those people who are no longer eligible to receive unemployment benefit will be eligible for income support(a) nationally and (b) in Nottinghamshire. [29922]
(2) following the introduction of the jobseeker's allowance, how many people will no longer be eligible for unemployment benefit (a) nationally and (b) in Nottinghamshire; [29922]
§ Mr. Roger EvansI have been asked to reply.
Subject to parliamentary approval of the Jobseeker's Bill unemployment benefit and income support for unemployed people will be replaced by jobseeker's allowance in October 1996. Contributory entitlement to jobseeker's allowance will end after six months. On current assumptions, at any one time 165,000 people in Great Britain would be in receipt of unemployment benefit beyond six months. It is estimated that income-based jobseeker's allowance would offset the difference fully for 30,000 of these, and partially, for a further 65,000. Separate estimates for Nottinghamshire are not available.
Notes:
- 1. Caseload estimates rounded to the nearest 5,000.
- 2. Estimates assume 2.4 million unemployed claimants and 500,000 Unemployment Benefit cases.