§ Ms Shortto ask the Secretary of State for Employment what adjudication decisions will be taken by front-line Employment Service officers when the jobseekers allowance is introduced; what training they will receive to enable them to discharge their new responsibilities; and if he will make a statement. [15265]
§ Miss WiddecombeThe introduction of the new jobseekers allowance to replace unemployment benefit and income support, and its joint delivery by the Employment Service and the Benefits Agency will mean a number of changes to adjudication work in both agencies. We are currently considering the impact of those changes, and looking at ways of improving the speed and effectiveness of adjudication. If locating some labour market adjudication decisions closer to the front line in jobcentres would speed up the process of decision making and give claimants better service, it is right that such ideas should be considered and piloted if appropriate.
A full programme of training for ES officers is being developed to equip them to deliver JSA effectively. This will include training on the entitlement conditions for JSA and the adjudication process.
§ Ms ShortTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if the current 21-hour rule enabling unemployed people to participate in independent European social fund courses will be subject to reduction to 16 guided learning hours when the jobseekers allowance is introduced; and if he will make a statement. [15258]
§ Miss WiddecombePeople undertaking part-time courses part-funded by the European social fund while claiming jobseekers allowance will be subject to the rules of JSA. These will include an upper limit of 16 guided learning hours per week for people undertaking Further Education Funding Council-funded courses and a requirement to be available for and actively seeking employment.
Where ESF part-funds Government programmes, such as training for work, trainees will be subject to the rules of those programmes.
§ Ms ShortTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if the current 21-hour rule enabling unemployed people to study while receiving benefit will be reduced to 16 guided learning hours when the jobseekers allowance is introduced in Northern Ireland; what difference there will be in the treatment of unemployed people who take up places in either further or higher education courses; and if he will make a statement. [15159]
§ Miss WiddecombePeople claiming jobseekers allowance will be able to undertake part-time courses provided that they remain available for, and actively seeking, employment. We have decided to update the rules to reflect changes in the way certain courses are organised. These changes will ensure that the rules can be applied fairly and consistently and allow the same number of unemployed people to study part time while receiving benefits. In the case of courses funded by the Further Education Funding Council in England, unemployed people will be able to study for up to 16 guided learning hours per week. We intend to introduce similar arrangements in Northern Ireland. The rules will be based on definitions used in further education in Northern248W Ireland, where the concept of guided learning hours is not used. There will be no change in higher education where a part-time definition still exists.