§ Mr. Nicholas Bakerasked the Secretary of State for Employment what would be the cost of extending the early retirement scheme to all registered disabled persons over 60 years of age; and if he will consider amending the scheme in this way.
§ Mr. Jim LesterThe additional gross cost of extending the job release scheme for a year to cover registered disabled men over 60 years of age on the unemployed register would be about £20 million during that year and about a further £42 million over the following four years.
In accordance with normal practice decisions about the future of the job release scheme will be made as part of the annual review of special employment, and training measures.