§ Mrs. Dunwoodyasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether any provisions exist for the consideration of applications, under the job release scheme which were made after the final date for applications but prior to the final date for job release.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkAcceptance of applications under the job release scheme is within ministerial discretion. Cases where there have been late applications are considered on their merits.
§ Mrs. Dunwoodyasked the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the annual cost of the job release scheme in each of the last five years; and what was the average payment per individual in each of those years.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkThe cost of the job release scheme in each of the last five financial years has been:476W
£ million 1979–80 85.4 1980–81 135.95 1981–82 134.14 1982–83 211.77 1983–84 *266.00 * The estimated cost for the job release scheme is £266 million. There have been a number of changes in the ages of eligibility for the scheme and the allowances paid which means it is not possible to quote an average level of allowance. In the last five years the allowances payable have been:
Tax free Taxable Higher rate £ Lower rate £ Higher rate £ Lower rate £ April 1979 40.00 31.50 * * April 1980 45.50 36.00 53.00 43.00 April 1981 50.50 40.00 59.00 47.50 April 1982 55.00 43.50 64.00 52.00 April 1983 57.75 45.70 67.20 54.60 * Not applicable. The rates payable under the part-time job release scheme have been:
Tax free Taxable Higher rate £ Lower rate £ Higher rate £ Lower rate £ October 1983 28.90 22.85 33.60 27.30 From 9 April 1984: Job release scheme 60.65 48.00 70.55 57.35 Part-time job release scheme 30.35 24.00 35.30 28.65