§ Ms ShortTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many hours of study people in receipt of severe disablement allowance will be able to undertake without jeopardising their benefit entitlement when the jobseeker's allowance is introduced; and if he will make a statement. [19753]
§ Mr HagueI have been asked to reply.
On its introduction in April 1996, jobseeker's allowance will allow unemployed people to undertake part-time further education courses of up to 16 "guided learning hours" a week. Severe disablement allowance is paid to people who are incapable of work through sickness and therefore cannot be claimed at the same time as JSA. SDA rules on hours of attendance on educational courses apply only to those recipients aged between 16 and 19 and the current limit on part time education is 21 hours a week. We are considering whether we need to change these rules.