§ Ms. PrimaroloTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans there are for the options courses or other restart menu items to be made compulsory.
§ Mr. EggarAs my right hon. and learned Friend announced to the House on 11 May, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security intends to introduce regulations later this year which will enable employment service staff to require the attendance at a restart course of those who have been unemployed for two years or more and who, at subsequent restart interviews, refused to participate in any of my Department's708W employment and training programmes. In some areas, restart courses are known locally as options courses and they will be covered by these regulations.
There are no plans at present to make attendance at any of the other opportunities offered at the restart interview compulsory. However, the conditions attached to Department of Employment programmes are kept continuously under review.