§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to change the system whereby an unemployed person who is undertaking a training course other than one sponsored by the training opportunities scheme is not only ineligible for training allowance but also forfeits his right to unemployment supplementary benefit.
§ Mr. PrenticeNo. I understand that the Supplementary Benefits Commission sees no reason to change its long-established general practice not to pay supplementary benefit to people during full time education or training. It considers that it is not for it but for the Manpower Services Commission, or others providing further education or training courses, to determine which courses and which trainees merit support.