§ Mr. Sandelsonasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the progress of the experimental scheme to pay unemployment benefit fortnightly rather than weekly.
§ Mr. BoothThe three-month evaluation period of the fortnightly attendance and payment procedures operating on an experimental basis in 36 unemployment benefit offices ended on 2nd December 1976. A report on the experiment is being prepared by a joint working party consisting of nominees of both staff unions and management. I hope that the report will be presented to me later this month. It will at the same time be placed in the Library of the House and made widely available outside. The Government will then decide whether to put forward proposals for extension of these fortnightly arrangements.