§ Mr. Alan HowarthTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment she has made of the impact of(a) introducing regulations relating to the severe hardship payments scheme for 16 and 17-year-olds, (b) administering the scheme through (i) Benefits Agency local offices and (ii) jobcentres and (c) introducing a right of appeal in respect of the scheme. [15079]
§ Mr. ForthThe jobseeker's allowance—JSA—replaced income support for jobseekers on October 7 1996. Under JSA, 16 and 17-year-olds attend the careers service and jobcentre. They no longer have to attend the Benefits Agency office.
We are carrying out a full evaluation of JSA. There will be a range of surveys, including qualitative research on the effect of JSA on 16 to 17-year-olds, covering both young people who would otherwise be in severe hardship and those in prescribed circumstances. Also included will be surveys of Employment Service and Benefits Agency staff involved in the delivery of JSA.
JSA continues the policy whereby unemployed 16 and 17-year-olds who would otherwise be in severe hardship may be awarded benefit at the Secretary of State's discretion. There are no plans to change this.