§ Mr. Gerald Bowdenasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether parity is being maintained between the job release schemes in Northern Ireland and Great Britain.
§ Dr. BoysonParticipants in the Northern Ireland full and part-time job release schemes will continue to receive allowances at the rates payable, in corresponding circumstances, under the parallel schemes in Great Britain. As from 8 April 1985 the new rates are as follows:Full-Time Scheme
For disabled men aged 60, 61, 62 and 63 (and for men who have joined the scheme at ages 62 and 63) who are married with a dependent wife whose net income from all sources does not exceed £13 a week: £71.15 a week, taxable; for all others: £58.35 a week, taxable. For women aged 59 and men aged 64 who are married with a dependent spouse whose net income from all sources does not exceed £13 a week: £63 a week, tax free; for all others: £49.95 a week, tax free.
Part-Time Scheme
For disabled men aged 60 and 61 and men aged 62 and 63 who are married with a dependent wife whose net income from all sources does not exceed £13 a week: £40.70 a week taxable; for all others: £33.80 a week, taxable. For women aged 59 and men aged 64 who are married with a dependent spouse whose net income from all sources does not exceed £13 a week: £35.55 a week, tax free; for all others: £28.95 a week, tax free. The new part-time scheme rates include a supplement of £4, to make the scheme more attractive to employees.
The changes made in the Great Britain part-time job release scheme will also be introduced in Northern Ireland with effect from 29 April 1985. For the first time, a grant of £840 will be payable to an employer supporting a successful application under the part-time job release scheme. The main changes are: to remove the restriction preventing individuals moving from the part-time scheme to the full-time scheme and to simplify the application procedure and the current rules, particularly those covering the hours to be given up by the employee. The revised scheme is designed to help create more jobs for unemployed people, to encourage changes in working patterns, and to make the scheme more attractive to employees.