§ Mr. Sheermanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what guidance is given to staff in determining whether a young person has unreasonably refused a training place; and where refusal has been so deemed, what additional tests are applied in deciding whether benefit should be reduced.
§ Dr. BoysonIf a young person refuses a training place his case is referred to an insurance officer, who is an independent adjudicating authority, for a decision whether he had good cause for his refusal. Before the case is referred to the insurance officer the young person is told of the information provided by the careers service or by the Manpower Services Commission and he is invited to give his comments. In particular he is asked to give his reasons for the refusal, and he is told the reason for the inquiry. No specific guidance is given to the insurance officer on the criteria to be applied in deciding whether the young person had good cause. He is expected to exercise his judgment on the evidence in each case.
If the insurance officer finds no good cause for the refusal, no further tests are applied and he is required to disqualify the young person for receiving unemployment benefit for up to six weeks. If the young person is claiming supplementary benefit, regulations require that that benefit be reduced, normally by 40 per cent. of the personal scale rate, for a similar period. A copy of the insurance officer's decision, including the basis for it, is sent to the young person. If he is dissatisfied, he has the right of appeal to an independent local tribunal.