§ Mr. Murphyasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will announce details of the part-time job release scheme.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkDetails of the part-time job release scheme, which will open for applications on 8 August 1983, are given in public leaflet PL 728, which can be obtained from jobcentres and employment offices. Application forms are also available at these offices. I would encourage older workers interested in partial retirement to study the details and see if this scheme can help them.
The scheme will be open to men aged 62–64, disabled men aged 60 and 61 and women aged 59. Job release 457W allowance of half the full-time rate will be paid to older workers who give up at least half their contractual hours to create a part-time job for an unemployed person.
No restrictions will be imposed al employers in the way they organise the hours worked by the part-time job release applicant and the part-time replacement worker, provided that the combined total is not less than the total weekly hours of the original full-time job. This, like other aspects of the scheme, will be kept under review.