§ 18. Mr. Frank FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the numbers and the percentages of unemployed who will gain the new jobseeker's allowance during its first year of operation; and how these figures differ from current claims for unemployment benefit.
§ Mr. Roger EvansOn current assumptions, 2,110,000 people would be receiving jobseeker's allowance at any one time in its first year of operation. Once transitional protection has ended, it is estimated that 90 per cent. of unemployed claimants will be receiving JSA. This compares with 20 per cent. who currently receive unemployment benefit.
The figures are in the table. The figures for 1996–97 reflect the transitional protection which will apply to unemployment benefit claimants in the first year of jobseeker's allowance.
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§ 28. Mr. JannerTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the effect of the jobseeker's allowance; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Roger EvansThe jobseeker's allowance is designed to help get people back to work, to secure better value for money for the taxpayer, and to improve the service to unemployed people themselves. Its financial effects are summarised in the explanatory and financial memorandum to the Jobseekers Bill.