§ Mr. Goldingasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether the welfare information experiment conducted in Coventry unemployment benefit offices will be continued; whether it will be extended nationwide; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Jim LesterThere are at present no plans to close the benefit and welfare information points in Coventry unemployment benefit offices nor to introduce a448W similar service nationwide. The aim of the experiment was to see if the information points led to an increase in the take-up by unemployed people of benefits administered by the DHSS and the local authority. In my view, the experiment did not produce firm evidence of a significant increase in take-up. I know that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services is considering possible ways of providing welfare advice and information, and if he wishes to conduct any further experiments involving unemployment benefit offices my Department will be glad to co-operate.