§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services why instructions from his Department to supplementary benefit officers in respect of paragraph 7(2) of the conditions of entitlement regulations refer to educational "qualifications"; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mrs. ChalkerInterpretation of the regulations in guidance issued to supplementary benefit officers is a matter for the chief supplementary benefit officer. Under the 21-hour course provision the claimant must he prepared to leave the course immediately a suitable vacancy becomes available. It is the claimant's intention that is crucial, not the fact of a prospective-qualification itself, but there may be circumstances where the attainment of a qualification is the most relevant factor in deciding the claimant's intention. Current guidance refers to courses which the claimant clearly intends to complete to obtain a qualification. This is not inconsistent with the interpretation above, but the balance of the wording reflects the former Supplementary Benefits Commission's approach. The guidance is currently under review and a revised version will be published in due course.