§ Mr. Alan HowardTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what is the administration cost per claimant of referrals to adjudication where a doubt has arisen about availability for work, actively seeking work, or willingness to accept work; [34788]
(2) how many adjudication decisions have been made on questions of availability for work, actively seeking work and willingness to accept work, where the adjudication officer considered claims related to the application of the student regulation for part-time study; [34786]
(3) how many adjudication decisions have been made on questions of availability for work, actively seeking work and willingness to accept work, where doubts have arisen (a) from the student questionnaire "People Attending Training and Further Education Courses", (b) as a result of voluntary activity and (c) as a result of part-time employment. [34787]
§ Mr. ForthResponsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Robert Home to Mr. Alan Howarth, dated 27 June 1996:
The Secretary of State has asked me, in the absence of the Chief Executive, to reply to your questions about adjudication decisions relating to unemployed people who are undertaking courses of training or further education, doing voluntary work or who are in part time employment.Unfortunately, information is not available in the form you have requested.Information about the number of adjudication officer decisions and opinions, is contained in a published document entitled "Analysis of Adjudication Officers' Decisions". This provides information on all the main entitlement questions arising on claims. Copies of this document are held in the Library of the House. The latest available information relates to the quarter year and year to 31 March 1996.However, no statistics are held specifically in relation to availability and actively seeking work decisions on claims made by people who complete student questionnaires, declare participation in voluntary work or are in part time employment.I am unable to state the administration cost per claimant where referral to adjudication is necessary because of doubts on these questions. Information on administration costs is not broken down in this way.I hope this is helpful.