HC Deb 31 October 1989 vol 159 c170W
56. Mr. Orme

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement regarding the new test that unemployment benefit claimants have to satisfy proving they are actively seeking work.

Mr. Eggar

The "actively seeking employment" condition applies to all claimants and will normally be satisfied by a simple declaration when a person claims benefit—usually fortnightly. It is too early to provide any figures for the number of those interviewed about their job search by employment service counsellors. This change is a timely and appropriate modernisation of unemployment benefit law.