§ Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Paymaster General whether he will take steps to ensure that the questionnaire designed to discourage those who are not available for work from claiming benefits does not discourage claimants from taking up voluntary work; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe introduction of the new procedures has made no change at all to the long-standing requirements for people who undertake voluntary work whilst claiming unemployment benefit to be available for work.
The established legal rules have always provided that voluntary work in itself does not prevent payment of benefit providing a claimant:
- (1) can be readily contacted about a job opportunity;
- (2) can on each day of their claim obtain release from the voluntary work to attend a job interview, or an interview in connection with employment prospects given at least 24 hours notice;
- (3) can on any day of the claim relinquish the voluntary work to take up a suitable job given 24 hours notice;
- (4) in respect of voluntary work, either clearly:
- (a) does not receive payment, or
- (b) satisfies the "engaged in employment" rules (if claiming unemployment benefit).
In addition to the new availability questionnaire, all new claimants are issued with leaflets [UBL18 and NI 12] which draw their attention to the separate rules affecting voluntary work. A further and fuller leaflet [NI 240] is also issued on request.