§ Mr. William RossTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a table in theOfficial Report to show for the last 12 months for which figures are available (a) how many persons from Northern Ireland have received assistance from public funds to travel to London to seek work, and (b) how many families and individuals from Northern Ireland have had to be given accommodation in London at public expense while seeking work in London; what is the average period such accommodation was occupied; and what was the cost.
§ Mr. ViggersUnder the travel-to-interview scheme the Department of Economic Development assisted a total of 275 people to travel to interviews in London during the 12 months ended 31 March 1988.
Under the supplementary benefit scheme, which ceased on 11 April, help was available in limited circumstances to people on supplementary benefit to enable them to find work within the United Kingdom provided they did not qualify for assistance under the travel-to-interview scheme. information is not held centrally about the numbers of persons assisted and could be obtained only at disaproportionate cost.
Information is not available about the numbers of families or individuals from Northern Ireland who had to be given accommodation in London at public expense while seeking work there.