§ Mr. Frank FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many claimants have(a) lost and (b) suffered a reduction in benefit because of (i) their failure to turn up to a Restart interview and (ii) their failure to adopt the course of action advocated at their interview, in each year since Restart began;
(2) how many claimants have (a) lost unemployment benefit and (b) suffered a reduction in supplementary benefit or income support because of their failure to satisfy the availability for work rules for each year since 1974.
§ Mr. David HuntI will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of the letter in the Library.
§ Mr. SteinbergTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many people are currently on the Restart programme;
(2) if those people on Restart programmes are included in the official unemployment statistics.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythResponsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
542WLetter from A. G. Johnson to Mr. Gerry Steinberg, dated 28 June 1994:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Questions about the numbers of people currently on the Restart Programme and whether they are included in the official unemployment statistics. I am replying in the Chief Executive's absence.It may help if I explain that Restart is not a programme but a series of regular six monthly interviews with an adviser, for people who have been unemployed for six months or more. These interviews provide clients with the opportunity to discuss their situation, consider the options available and agree a course of action which, if taken, will offer the best prospects of finding a job. Advisers also make sure that clients understand and continue to meet the conditions for receipt of benefit. The number of Restart interviews that have taken place in 1993–94 is 2,800,000. The clients involved are included in the official unemployment statistics.For those people who are still unsure about which course of action to take, Restart Courses are available. These are designed to give participants a more in-depth opportunity to assess their strengths and skills and become aware of local opportunities available to them in planning steps back to work. The courses also provide guidance and help in job search.In the 12 months from April 1993 until March 1994 over 143,000 people started on a Restart Course. From April this year 22,000 have started on a course.Participants remain on the unemployment register and continue to receive normal unemployment benefits whilst attending the course. They are, therefore, included in the official unemployment statistics. Fares to and from the course are also paid.I hope this is helpful.
§ Mr. Frank FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will list the numbers attending Restart interviews for each year since 1986 and the outcome of these interviews for each year in question;
(2) how many benefit reductions have been made each year since section 20 of the Social Security Act 1975 has come into force.
§ Mr. David HuntI will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of the letter in the Library.