§ Mrs. WiseTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many 16 and 17-year-olds awaiting a youth training place are in receipt of severe hardship payments.
§ Mr. BurtThe information is not available in the form requested.
The average length of award of severe hardship provision is eight weeks, but it is possible for more than one claim to be made in this period. The total number of claims in any eight week period may therefore be greater than the total number of people claiming.
During the eight-week period ending 4 December 1992, 13,000 successful claims have been made.