§ Earl Russellasked Her Majesty's Government:
What, if anything. will be regarded as a good cause for refusing a particular welfare to work placement. [HL283]
§ The Minister of State, Department for Education and Employment (Baroness Blackstone)Regulation 73 of the Jobseeker's Allowance Regulations 1996 (as amended by the Social Security Amendment (New Deal) Regulations 1997) sets out the circumstances which constitute good cause for refusing one of the options of the New Deal for 18–24 year olds. The list is not exhaustive and the adjudication officer will take into account any information a claimant makes available to support his or her position before reaching a decision on whether a sanction should be imposed.
§ Earl Russellasked Her Majesty's Government:
Under what vires the welfare to work pilot schemes are being conducted. [HL278]
§ Baroness BlackstoneOpportunities for work, education and training under our New Deal for young people and long term unemployed adults will be provided pursuant to arrangements made by the Secretary of State under the Employment and Training Act 1973, as amended by the Employment Act 1988. The Social Security Amendment (New Deal) Regulations 1997 89WA implement our policy that young people who enter the New Deal have the responsibility to participate in the programme if they remain unemployed, and that there is no option of continuing indefinitely on full benefit for those who refuse to participate.
§ Earl Russellasked Her Majesty's Government:
For how long and at what rate those who refuse to accept any of the four options under the welfare to work pilot schemes will lose benefit; and under what vires the loss of benefit is imposed. [HL279]
§ Baroness BlackstoneThe New Deal for 18–24 year olds will help young people to improve their employability and to find work. In return young people have the responsibility to take advantage of the New Deal opportunities open to them. Young people who, without good cause, fail to attend or give up a place on one of the four New Deal options which has previously been notified to them in writing will lose their Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) for two weeks. If, having lost JSA for two weeks, they again, without good cause, fail to attend or give up a place at any time in the following 12 months they will lose JSA for four weeks. There is no upper limit to the number of occasions on which a four-week loss of JSA can recur in any 12 month period. Of course, in order to start receiving money young people have only to accept their place on the New Deal. These arrangements are set out in section 19 of the Jobseeker's Act 1995, and Part V of the Jobseeker's Allowance Regulations 1996, as amended by the Social Security Amendment (New Deal) Regulations 1997.
§ Earl Russellasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the rate of disentitlement under the pilot schemes for welfare to work is the same as is intended to be applied under the full scheme. [HL280]
§ Baroness BlackstoneThe New Deal for 18–24 year olds was introduced in a number of pathfinder areas in January 1998 and will be introduced in all other areas in Britain in April 1998. The benefit sanction arrangements will be the same in all areas of the country.
§ Earl Russellasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether those who have accepted one of the options under the welfare to work pilot schemes will receive benefits while they wait for a placement to be found for them; and, if so, at what rate. [HL281]
§ Baroness BlackstoneYes. Unless serving a benefit sanction, young people on the New Deal for 18–24 year olds will continue to receive Jobseeker's Allowance at the rate appropriate to their circumstances until they accept and take up a place on a New Deal option.
Earl Russell asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether those who have accepted one of the four options under the welfare to work scheme will be compelled to accept the first placement they are offered; and whether and to what extent they will be allowed to wait for a suitable option. [HL282]
90WA
§ Baroness BlackstoneOur commitment is that each young person on the New Deal for 18–24 years olds will be provided with the chance to pursue one or more places in one or more of the four New Deal options before reaching the stage at which he or she is required to take up a place notified in writing by an employment officer. No one will be compelled to accept the first and only placement they have been offered.