§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received from voluntary organisations regarding the potential effects of the Jobseekers Bill on voluntary work. [24449]
§ Miss WiddecombeI have been asked to reply.
Ministers in the Employment Department and the Department of Social Security have received a number of representations from voluntary organisations. As my noble Friend Lord Inglewood indicated during discussion on the Jobseekers Bill in Committee, we will consider the view of the representatives of the voluntary sector before jobseeker's allowance regulations are drafted.
§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the effect of the Jobseekers Bill on the numbers of people gaining work experience through long-term voluntary work. [24447]
§ Miss WiddecombeI have been asked to reply.
434WPeople who undertake voluntary work must still be available for employment and must actively seek employment in order to receive unemployment benefit or income support for the unemployed. Current provision in regulations however, allow unemployed people who undertake voluntary work 48 hours' notice to be available to take up an offer of employment. Current provisions also enable a person's voluntary work to be taken into account when considering whether he has met the actively seeking employment condition for receipt of benefit. As my noble Friend Lord Inglewood indicated during discussion of the Jobseekers Bill, we will be following this approach in jobseeker's allowance.
§ Mr. BurdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what trials or pilot schemes of anticipated jobseeker's allowance procedures have been undertaken by his Department; where they were held; how long they lasted; what they covered; and what were their results. [25575]
§ Mr. Roger EvansI refer the hon. Member to the reply given today by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Employment.