§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are unemployed but ineligible for unemployment benefit because they had previously been self-employed; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. McLoughlinThe information is not available. There is no rule to prevent a previously self-employed person from registering as unemployed or claiming benefit, although the self-employed are normally excluded from entitlement to unemployment benefit because they fail to satisfy the national insurance contribution conditions. Nevertheless income support is available for unemployed people whose income and savings fall below specified levels.