§ Ms. ShortTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what conditions need to be fulfilled by participants in the employment training scheme to be able to claim in-work benefits including family credit; if he will explain what conditions the scheme has had to satisfy so that participants are able to make successful claims; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. JackParticipants in the employment training scheme can claim housing benefit if they are liable for rent and community charge benefit if they are liable for the full personal community charge in the same way as any other person. To claim family credit the claimant, or his partner, must be in remunerative work of at least 24 hours a week 16 hours a week from 7 April and responsible for at least one child. For family credit purposes the employment training scheme counts as remunerative work only if the participant has employee status. Under the terms of their660W contracts with the Employment Department, training and enterprise councils are responsible for ensuring that trainees are informed of their status while undergoing training.