§ Mr. Blunkettasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received from the hon. Member for Sheffield, Brightside about the case of Mr. and Mrs. Ellis of 21 Valentine crescent, Sheffield; and what assessment he has made of the implications of this case for his policy of reducing dependency on the state.
§ Mr. Portillo[holding answer, 29 October 1987]: The hon. Member wrote to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 2 September and 14 September, and to my hon. Friend the Minister of State on 23 September. I replied to those letters on 29 September, and explained that supplementary benefit is not designed for full-time students, such as Mr. Ellis, who have withdrawn from the employment field to embark on a course of study, nor is it intended for people such as Mrs. Ellis, whose contact with the employment field has been less than six months. These principles are consistent with the Government's policy of reducing dependency on the state.
People receiving a Manpower Services Commission training allowance are not required to be available for work as a condition for receiving supplementary benefit. If Mr. Ellis were accepted for a course of study which was sponsored by MSC, his income would be adequate for his family because he would receive an MSC training allowance which would be topped-up by supplementary benefit if necessary. There are several MSC-sponsored computer courses in the Sheffield area.