HC Deb 24 June 1997 vol 296 c448W
Mr. Öpik

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the use of discretion by jobcentre staff in applying postal signing rules for the jobseeker's allowance for claimants with high travelling costs; and if he will issue guidance. [4872]

Mr. Alan Howarth

Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its Chief Executive. 1 have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from Leigh Lewis to Mr. Lembit Öpik, dated 24 June 1997: The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the postal signing rules. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency. Under our present rules a person claiming Jobseeker's Allowance whose normal journey to their Jobcentre would take more than one hour in either direction, or would entail an absence from home of four hours or more, is allowed to sign on by post. People whose mobility is affected by a disability may also be allowed to sign on by post. In addition Jobcentre Managers do have discretion to allow postal signing in other circumstances. The relevant guidance, which is contained within the Employment Service's Jobseeker's Allowance Interventions Guide, chapter 20, paragraph 3, states that: 'Business Managers may also use some discretion in offering the postal facility to other jobseekers, even if their journey is possible within the time limits in paragraph 2, (i.e., their journey time is less than 1 hour in either direction or they would be absent from home for less than 4 hours.) For example, if the jobseeker would have to use a form of transport which they could not be expected to use on a fortnightly basis, for example, an InterCity train, a ferry or a plane'.

Mr. Öpik

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many young people are currently receiving the jobseeker's allowance, under the severe hardship provision or receiving a bridging allowance; and if he will make a statement. [4852]

Mr. Howarth

There were 16,000 young people aged 16 and 17 years old receiving jobseeker's allowance (JSA) in February 1997, the latest date for which figures are available. The vast majority of these young people would have been receiving JSA because they would otherwise have faced severe hardship.

There were 5,150 young people receiving a Youth Training Bridging Allowance in May 1997.