§ Mr. Alan HowarthTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is her estimate of the cost of extending eligibility for jobsearch assistance to(a) partners of (i) unemployed claimants and (ii) sick and disabled people, (b) lone parents and (c) sick and disabled claimants. [10962]
§ Mr. ForthAll of these people can get help in looking for a job from the employment service. In addition, subject to certain eligibility conditions, people in each of these groups are eligible for our employment and training programmes. Any individual is eligible if he or she has been(a) in direct or indirect receipt of one or more of a number of relevant benefits for a specified minimum period, and (b) out of work for a specified minimum 391W period. Some groups, including people with disabilities, are eligible for programmes whether or not they meet these conditions.