§ Mr. RooneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment in what circumstances claimants of jobseeker's allowance will have the right to a copy of their jobseeker's agreement prior to the new claim interview. [35287]
§ Mr. ForthA jobseeker's agreement can be drawn up only after a full discussion between the jobseeker and an Employment Service adviser. This will normally take place at the new claim interview, and until then the jobseeker will be treated as having an agreement. People who are already claiming when the jobseeker's allowance 297W is introduced in October 1996 will also initially be treated as having an agreement, and the actual agreement will be drawn up at their next advisory interview. If a new claim for JSA is made within 14 days of a previous period of entitlement, the previous agreement will continue to have effect, but otherwise there are no circumstances in which an agreement can exist prior to the new claim interview.