§ Mr. RoweTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the effect of voluntary work undertaken in excess of 24 hours a week by an unemployed person who can demonstrate that he or she is looking for work on the person's benefit entitlement.
§ Mr. BurtThere is no legislation limiting the amount of voluntary work an unemployed person may undertake. An unemployed person who is engaged in unpaid voluntary work may continue to receive benefits provided he continues to satisfy the conditions of entitlement. These are that a person must be available for work, and must actively seek work each week.
Current legislation allows volunteers 24 hours' notice in which to make the necessary arrangements to give up or rearrange voluntary responsibilities before taking up an offer of employment. In recognition of the value the Government place on voluntary work the Secretary of State announced on 28 April a proposal to extend this period of notice to 48 hours.