§ Mr. Tom Coxasked the Paymaster General how many people who live in the London borough of Wandsworth have had their benefit terminated or suspended for failure to attend restart interviews.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeNo one can lose their benefit entitlement solely as a result of the restart programme. Under long-standing legal rules people can lose their entitlement to benefit if they fail to attend an interview, are not available for work or refuse an offer of suitable employment.
The information asked for is not available in the exact form requested as it is not possible to match precisely unemployment benefit office areas with the borough of Wandsworth boundary. Up to 13 November 1986, 126 people claiming unemployment benefit in the offices covering the London borough of Wandsworth had failed to attend a restart interview after two invitations and as a result had their benefit disallowed by independent adjudication officers. Subsequently 56 of them attended a restart interview and had their benefit reinstated.
§ Mr. Wainwrightasked the Paymaster General what percentage of the people carrying out restart interviews have been through the full training programme for restart interviewers and counsellors.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeIn all but exceptional cases of unforeseen absence of trained staff, restart interviews are always carried out by fully trained counsellors.