§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people, eligible for assistance under the travel-to-interview scheme, were unemployed for(a) longer than four weeks and (b) longer than 13 weeks in each year since 1993–94. [30541]
§ Mr. ForthResponsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Mike Fogden to Mr. Brian Donohoe, dated 5 June 1996:
494WThe Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions on how many people, eligible for assistance under the Travel to Interview Scheme (TIS), were employed for longer than four weeks and longer than 13 weeks in each year since 1993–94.I am unable to provide the information you ask for, as my Jobcentres do not record how long people who apply for TIS have been unemployed. However, in the sample taken for a recent study, 26% of applications were from people unemployed for less than 13 weeks.I am sorry I cannot be more helpful.