§ Mr. WillisTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to allow mature students on access courses in colleges of further education to continue to receive jobseeker's allowance whilst attending access courses. [39027]
§ Mr. Alan HowarthFor those aged 18–24, unemployed 6 months or more, there is an option under the New Deal to study full-time for up to 12 months. Study may be on access courses. These people will receive an allowance rather than Jobseeker's Allowance.
For those aged 25 and over, unemployed 2 years or more, there will be an opportunity to study full-time for up to a year on the New Deal while remaining on Jobseeker's Allowance. Study may be on access courses.
For those receiving Jobseeker's Allowance who do not fall into the above New Deal groups or for those in scope of the 25 and over New Deal who do not wish to take up full-time study, the existing Jobseeker's Allowance legislation will continue to apply. The Jobseeker's Allowance rules allow study part-time while receiving Jobseeker's Allowance.
We will review the Jobseeker's Allowance rules on education and training in the light of experience of the Jobseeker's Allowance Workskill pilots and early experience of our welfare to work programme.