HC Deb 07 December 1987 vol 124 cc57-8W
Mr. Wray

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many people to date have lost benefits of any kind because they refused places on the YTS and job training scheme;

(2) how many people in Scotland to date have lost benefit of any kind because they refused to accept YTS or job training scheme places.

Mr. Portillo

Between December 1983, when figures were first kept, and 20 October 1987, the latest date for which figures are available, 2,263 people in Great Britain, including 179 people in Scotland, have had their supplementary benefit reduced for refusing a place on the youth training scheme without good cause. Benefit sanctions are not applied to people who refuse places in the new job training scheme.