§ Mr. ChaytorTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to extend the criteria for eligibility for attendance at job clubs to those who have had a series of brief periods of temporary unemployment but are otherwise long-term unemployed. [7109]
§ Mr. Alan HowarthThere are no plans at present to change the eligibility criteria for this programme.
Letter from Leigh Lewia to Mr. David Chaytor, dated July 1997:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about extending the criteria for attendance at Jobclubs. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.Normally, a jobseeker must be continually unemployed for a period of at least 26 weeks before they become eligible to join a Jobclub. However, breaks in this period (for example, for short term work or holidays) can be discounted provided that this does not exceed a total of 28 days.There are no plans at present to change the eligibility criteria for this programme.I hope this is helpful.