§ Ms ShortTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if European Community nationals are allowed to count any period of unemployment in which they were in receipt of benefit in another EC country towards the qualifying period of unemployment for eligibility for(a) training for work, (b) community action and (c) other Employment Service programmes; and if he will make a statement. [15180]
§ Miss WiddecombeAt present, people who qualify for training for work on the grounds of unemployment need to have been unemployed for six months in the United Kingdom to be eligible, regardless of nationality. Periods of unemployment in other European Union—European economic area countries count towards eligibility for community action and all other Employment Service programmes. We are currently in the process of reviewing all eligibility criteria for Employment Department programmes to ensure they are consistent, simple and clear.
§ Ms ShortTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment in what circumstances citizens from other European Community countries can participate in youth training, training for work or community action, or in other employment schemes financed by the Employment Department; once having entered a programme, if they are entitled to complete it; and if he will make a statement. [15181]
§ Mr. PaiceCitizens of other European Community countries can participate in training and other schemes financed by the Employment Department, provided they otherwise satisfy the eligibility conditions for the individual scheme concerned. Eligible people entering a particular scheme are entitled to complete it provided they continue to satisfy the conditions of the scheme concerned.