HC Deb 18 March 1997 vol 292 cc527-8W
Mr. Rooney

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if the instruction to Employment Service adjudication officers contained in the "Adjudication Offices Guidance", volume IV, paragraph 26664.4, is required to be taken into account when a jobseeker's direction is issued to a claimant. [20295]

Mr. Forth

[holding answer 18 March 1997]: Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from Leigh Lewis to Mr. Terry Rooney, dated 18 March 1997: The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking whether the instruction to Employment Service adjudication officers contained in paragraph 26664.4 of the Adjudication Officer's guidance, is required to be taken into account when a Jobseeker's Direction is issued to a claimant. The Adjudication Officer's guidance states that it is not reasonable to expect claimants to take steps that could result in an offer of employment that they would have good cause for refusing if it was notified to them by an employment officer. I can confirm that this is required to be taken into account when a Jobseeker's Direction is issued to a jobseeker. I hope this clarifies the position.