HC Deb 28 January 1997 vol 289 c188W
20. Mr. French

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he plans to introduce the parent plus scheme; and if he will make a statement. [11388]

Mr. Andrew Mitchell

Parents plus will be piloted in 12 areas over a three-year period starting this April, offering advice and help to up to 100,000 lone parents on income support who wish to return to work.

This is further evidence of the Government's commitment to helping lone parents into employment—successive changes to the benefits systems have already helped over 200,000 lone parents to move off income support into work since 1992.