§ Ms. ShortTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security in what circumstances a single parent who is receiving income support can retain their eligibility for that benefit if they participate in European social fund vocational training courses provided either by(a) voluntary organisations or local authorities or (b) training and enterprise councils/local enterprise companies; and if he will make a statement.
§ Miss WiddecombeThe European social fund provides financial support to training and employment initiatives, including employment training. Lone parents will normally remain eligible for income support while participating in a training course which is funded under the European social fund. However, any payments made in connection with the course will be taken into account in the normal way, depending on whether these are made under section 2 of the Employment and Training Act 1973, 537W or are otherwise made on a contractual or voluntary basis. In particular, any training premium, travelling expenses or living away from home allowance paid to employment training participants is disregarded. Those lone parents who are attending a non-government training course and whose youngest child is aged 16 or over will normally be required to be available for employment or to provide medical evidence that they are incapable of work.
Claimants Men Percentage change Women Percentage change All people Percentage change 2 June 1979 SB 355,500 -10.8 132,300 0.2 487,800 -8.0 IVB 504,500 9-1 106,500 10.0 611,000 9.3 31 May 1980 SB 312,900 -110 137,400 3.9 450,000 -7-7 IVB 506,200 0.3 108,800 22 615,000 07 30 May 1981 SB 289,990 -7.3 119,994 -127 409,984 -9.0 IVB 516,511 2.0 116,464 7.0 632,975 2.9 29 May 1982 SB 317,740 9.6 151,433 26-2 469,173 14.4 IVB 553,107 7-1 130,400 12-0 683,507 8.0 2 April 1983 SB 280,675 -11-7 126,923 -16.2 407,598 -13.1 IVB 592,907 72 144,007 10.4 736,914 7.8 31 March 1984 SB 173,300 -38.3 74,200 -41.5 247,500 -39.3 IVB 638,300 7.7 159,100 10.5 797,400 8.2 30 March 1985 SB 156,954 -9.4 68,254 -0.8 225,208 -9.0 IVB 672,681 5.4 176,667 11.0 849,348 6.5 5 April 1986 SB 162,200 3.3 75,300 10-3 237,500 5.5 IVB 706,100 5.0 193,300 9.4 899,400 5.9 4 April 1987 SB 123,000 -24.2 64,200 -14.7 187,200 -212 IVB 754,400 6.8 213,600 10.5 968,000 7.6 2 April 1988 SB 137,600 11.9 90,200 405 227,800 21.7 IVB 807,800 7.1 239,700 122 1,047,500 82 1 April 1989 SB 151,600 10.2 114,800 27.3 266,400 16.9 IVB 859,700 6.4 266,400 11.1 1,126,100 7.5 31 March 1990 SB 168,900 11.4 139,800 21.8 308,700 15.9 IVB 916,900 6.7 292,500 9.8 1,209,400 7.4 Notes:
1. SB =sickness benefit.
2. IVB = invalidity benefit.
3. Figures based on a l per cent. sample of claimants at the dates given.
4. From 6 April 1983 statutory sick pay was introduced for a maximum of eight weeks sickness absence in a tax year. From 6 April 1986 statutory sick pay is payable for up to 28 weeks in any one period of incapacity for work.
5. Totals include people not entitled to sickness or invalidity benefit, but who receive incapacity credits.