§ Mr. Craigenasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many employees have made use of the Job Release Act 1977 since its introduction in total and under each of the various changes made in its operation since then.
§ Mr. AlisonSince job release was introduced in January 1977 a total of 191,058 people have made use of the scheme. The attached schedule shows those who have participated according to the various changes in the scheme.
Dates of change Number of approved applications between dates 3 January 1977 (1) 1 July 1977 16,786 (2) 1 April 1978 7,722 (3) 1 May 1979 27,514 (4) 6 April 1980 66,293 (5) 1 November 1981 39,120 (6) 1 February 1982 13,284 (7) 1 June 1982 20,339 (8) Total 191,058 Notes
(1) Job release scheme introduced in the assisted areas for both employed and unemployed people within one year of State retirement age i.e. 64 for men and 59 for women.
(2) Scheme restricted to people in assisted areas who were in full time employment.
(3) Scheme extended to cover the whole of Great Britain.
(4) Scheme extended to cover men aged 62 and disabled men aged 60.
43W(5) Scheme reverted to men aged 64 and women aged 59. The scheme for disabled men continued but allowances were taxed.
(6) Scheme extended to cover men aged 63.
(7) Scheme extended to cover able-bodied men aged 62.
(8) The latest date for which figures are available.