§ Mr. Frank FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the total cost of abolishing the 16-hour rule in income support; and if he will break this down into its constituent parts. [6268]
§ Mr. Forth[holding reply 2 December 1996]I have been asked to reply.
We estimate that the cost in benefit expenditure of abolishing the 16 guided learning hours limit for people undertaking education and training while receiving jobseeker's allowance could be between £500 million and £1,250 million a year. This is based on the assumption that any student other than those undertaking full-time courses in higher education could be eligible for JSA.