§ Mr. RooneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the criteria used by Employment Service staff to decide whether a client they refer to an
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Non-industrial staff in post 1 January 1994 education group Men hours Women hours Grade full-time part-time all full-time part-time all Administrative assistant 743 11 754 1,860 304 2,164 Administrative assistant ADP 5 — 5 35 32 67 Enrolled nurse — — — — — — Support grade band 2 327 9 336 105 145 250 Teleprinter operator — — — — — — Trainee typist — — — — — — Typist 2 — 2 442 221 663 Total AA level 1,077 20 1,097 2,442 702 3,144 Administrative officer 7,848 126 7,974 18,680 5,320 24,000 Administrative officer ADP 12 — 12 16 1 17 Assistant photographer — — — — — — Driver — — — — — — Personal secretary 2 — 2 330 42 372 Personal secretary trainee — — — — — — Support grade band 1 67 1 68 114 21 135 Trainee graphics officer — — — — — — Total AO level 7,929 127 8,056 19,140 5,384 24,524 employment rehabilitation course should remain on their disability or unemployment-related benefits or be placed on a rehabilitation allowance; if those who remain on unemployment-related benefits may participate in full-time rehabilitation courses of more than 21 hours per week; and what changes are planned in these arrangements as a result of the introduction of the new incapacity benefit.
§ 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.
Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Terry Rooney, dated 28 March 1994:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about whether a client referred to an employment rehabilitation course should remain on disability or unemployment related benefits.
Clients attending full-time rehabilitation programmes are entitled to claim Rehabilitation Allowance according to their circumstances or may choose to remain on their existing benefits. My people will discuss the options with each client and help them to decide which course of action will be most advantageous in their particular circumstances.
Clients may continue to claim benefits for unemployment (unemployment benefit, Income Support or a combination of both) for as long as they remain eligible, with the exception of those in receipt of Income Support as a sole benefit. They must claim Rehabilitation Allowance to satisfy the Benefits Agency rules about payment of benefits.
Similarly, as long as all the conditions of entitlement remain satisfied, a person who remains incapable of work may continue to receive benefits for incapacity (Sickness Benefit, Invalidity Benefit or Severe Disablement Allowance). Department of Social Security (DSS) inform us that there are no plans to change these rules under the new incapacity benefit.
I hope this is helpful.