§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people he estimates will lose their social security entitlement as a consequence of his reduction of the number of weekly hours which students can commit to their studies without losing benefit eligibility. [15944]
§ Miss WiddecombeThe Government's proposals are designed to allow the same number of people to study while claiming benefits for the unemployed after the introduction of jobseeker's allowance as do so now. The new rules will not come into force until April 1996. The detail of the transitional arrangements for JSA and other social security benefits is still being considered. I explained to the Jobseeekrs Bill Committee on 14 February 1995 at column374, however, that our intention is that no one who is currently on a course will have to give it up because of the change that we are proposing.