§ Dr. Hampsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has yet completed his review of the 482W application of the supplementary benefit 21-hour rule to young people leaving the youth opportunities programme or the youth training scheme.
§ Mr. NewtonYes. As my hon. Friend knows the current regulation provides that young people who complete such a course have then to spend a three months' period available for work in receipt of benefit before becoming eligible to study under the 21-hour rule.
We have now decided, after consultation with the Departments of Education and Science and of Employment, that it is right to eliminate this delay in respect of young people who have completed an MSC training course and do not find work. Accordingly, my right hon. Friend has today referred a draft regulation to the Social Security Advisory Committee, providing for time spent on the youth opportunities programme or the youth training scheme to count towards the three months' qualifying period for eligibility to undertake part-time study under the 21 hour rule whilst in receipt of supplementary benefit.
The draft regulation will form part of the set of Supplementary Benefit (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations which has already been referred to the Social Security Advisory Committee for consideration.