§ Mr. Alan HowarthTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many unemployed people receiving the jobseeker's allowance are involved in self-build schemes; how many have been refused the jobseeker's allowance because they have been deemed unavailable for work while involved in self-build schemes; and what is her estimate of(a) the cost and (b) the numbers who are aged (i) under 25 years and (ii) over 25 years from deeming availability during a period on a self-build project. [15830]
§ Mr. ForthThe Employment Service does not collect specific information about unemployed people who receive JSA and who participate in self-build schemes. It is not possible, therefore, to provide any of the estimates requested.
§ Mr. HowarthTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate she has made of(a) the costs and (b) the numbers of under-25-year-olds gaining from (i) the abolition of the 16-hour rule for the jobseeker's allowance, (ii) introducing part-time availability for work to those undertaking part-time study under the 16-hour rule and (iii) removing the requirement on those in part-time study to give up a course if suitable work is available until such time as the course has ended. [15803]
§ Mr. ForthWe have made no such estimates. The evaluation of the workskill pilots, which we plan to introduce on 7 April 1997, is intended to provide some information of this kind.