§ Mr. Blunkettasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement regarding the level of support, following their disentitlement to supplementary benefit. for the dependants of unemployed heads of households who take up full-time training.
§ Mr. PortilloUnemployment or supplementary benefit for both a claimant and his dependents is payable only if414W an unemployed person can demonstrate that he or she is available for employment. It follows that the Government's general policy towards unemployed persons who embark on a course of training or study is that their financial support should be the responsibility of the employer, local education authority or other organisation concerned. This policy continues that applied during previous administrations.
There is one exception to the availability rule for unemployed people in that a supplementary benefit claimant who is receiving a Government training allowance—usually from the Manpower Services Commission—is exempt from the requirement to be available for work. This enables the training allowance to be topped up by supplementary benefit if the allowance is insufficient for the trainee's requirements. Trainees who cease to be entitled to supplementary benefit are still able to claim other income-related benefits (such as refunds, exemption from prescription charges, housing benefit, welfare foods) in respect of themselves and their dependants and, of course, child benefit, depending on their individual circumstances.