§ Mr. ByersTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if the 16-hour limit for study under the jobseeker's agreement will apply to students on courses (i) funded by the European social fund and (ii) provided by the higher education sector; and if she will make a statement. [15572]
§ Mr. ForthThe 16 guided learning hours limit will apply only to courses which are funded or part-funded by the further education funding councils for England and Wales. The limit for courses of further education which are funded or part-funded by the Secretary of State for Scotland will be 16 hours of classroom-based or workshop-based programmed learning under the direct guidance of teaching staff and additional hours using structured learning packages supported by teaching staff up to a combined total of 21 hours. For all other courses the rule continues to be that the course must be part time, not full time.