HL Deb 03 February 1998 vol 585 cc106-9WA
Earl Russell

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether people accepting a placement under the welfare to work scheme which has a starting date in the future will retain an entitlement to benefits until the date when their placement is due to start. [HL317]

Baroness Blackstone

Unless serving a benefit sanction, young people on the New Deal for 18–24 year olds waiting to take up an option place will continue to receive any benefits to which they are entitled until the day the placement is due to start.

Earl Russell

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether those dismissed from a welfare to work placement will be entitled to benefits pending either a new placement or the exercise of any right to appeal they may enjoy. [HL318]

Baroness Blackstone

Young people on the New Deal for 18–24 year olds who are dismissed from an option and who reclaim JSA within 13 weeks of leaving will have their case referred to an adjudication officer to decide whether a benefit sanction should be imposed. Those young people who are entitled to receive JSA will continue to receive it pending a decision.

Earl Russell

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What, if anything, will be regarded as good cause for leaving a welfare to work placement; and whether those who claim to have left a placement for good cause will be allowed benefits pending the exercise of any rights of appeal they may enjoy. [HL319]

Baroness Blackstone

I refer the noble Lord to his Written Question [HL283]. Jobseeker's Allowance will be paid to those entitled to receive it pending any decision by an adjudication officer.

Earl Russell

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether women in refuges who have been victims of domestic violence will be allowed to remain on benefits rather than being compelled to accept a welfare to work placement; and, if so, for how long or at whose discretion. [HL320]

Baroness Blackstone

The New Deal for 18–24 year olds has been designed to help all young unemployed people claiming the Jobseeker's Allowance for six months or more. JSA claimants are required to be available for work and actively seeking work. The New Deal will help any women aged 18–24 in refuges who claim JSA for six months or more. The programme begins with a gateway period, lasting for up to four months, which can include help from specialist agencies for young people with exceptional problems such as homelessness. Our commitment is that during the gateway, each young person will be provided with a chance to pursue one or more places in one or more of the four New Deal options before reaching the stage at which she is required to take up a place notified in writing by an employment officer. Women receiving income support because they have dependent children will not be required to join the New Deal programme for 18–24 year olds.

Earl Russell

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether those who have suffered a traumatic event such as a bereavement or being thrown out of the family home by a spouse or a parent will be allowed a period of grace during which they will be allowed to receive benefits before being compelled to accept a welfare to work placement; and if so, for how long or at whose discretion. [HL321]

Baroness Blackstone

All young people who join the New Deal for 18–24 year olds will be claiming the Jobseeker's Allowance, which requires them to be available for and actively seeking work. The New Deal for 18–24 year olds is about identifying and responding to individual circumstances. During the gateway, which can last for up to four months, young unemployed people can receive help from specialist agencies to tackle such exceptional problems as homelessness. They will also receive support from their New Deal adviser who will be able to help them make appropriate choices about the steps they should take to increase their employability and find work. A young person reaching the closing stages of the gateway period who has been unable to obtain a place in a New Deal option will be required to take up the place in an option which his or her personal adviser considers the most appropriate available.

Earl Russell

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether or to what extent the welfare to work regime will be applied to those suffering from mental illness. [HL322]

Baroness Blackstone

There are several welfare to work programmes including the New Deals for lone parents, disabled people and 18–24 year old unemployed people. Our New Deal for disabled people will aim to help people, including those suffering from mental illness, who are claiming incapacity benefits and who would like to work. The New Deal for 18–24 year olds has been designed to help young unemployed people who have been claiming the Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) for at least six months or more back into work. One of the conditions for receipt of JSA is that individuals should be capable of work. People with disabilities can, under JSA, restrict their availability for work in any way provided it is reasonable in the light of their condition. Where such restrictions are in place these will be taken fully into account while someone is on the New Deal.

Earl Russell

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether or to what extent the welfare to work regime will be applied to the street homeless. [HL344]

Baroness Blackstone

All young people who join the New Deal for 18–24 year olds will be claiming Jobseeker's Allowance, which requires them to be available for and actively seeking work. The New Deal for 18–24 year olds is about identifying and responding to individual circumstances. During the gateway. which can last for up to four months, young unemployed people can receive help from specialist agencies to tackle such exceptional problems as homelessness. They will also receive support from their New Deal adviser who will be able to help them make appropriate choices about the steps they should take to increase their employability and find work.

Earl Russell

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether someone who has completed a six-month welfare to work placement will be allowed to receive Jobseeker's Allowance while actively seeking work; and, if so, for how long and on what terms. [HL345]

Baroness Blackstone

Young people who have completed an option on the New Deal for 18–24 year olds will be able to receive Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) if they satisfy the normal conditions of entitlement.

Earl Russell

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether high travelling costs or lack of transport will be regarded as a good cause for refusing a particular welfare to work placement; whether those refusing a placement for this reason will retain an entitlement to benefit pending the offer of a more suitable placement. [HL346]

Baroness Blackstone

All young people who join the New Deal 18–24 year olds will be claiming Jobseeker's Allowance, which requires them to be available for and actively seeking work. 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. Travelling time of more than one hour in either direction will constitute good cause, unless no appropriate placement is available within that time. The list of good cause is not exhaustive and the adjudication officer will take into account any information a claimant makes available to support his or her position. Young people on the New Deal for 18–24 year olds will have their weekly travel costs over the first four pounds met while they are receiving an allowance for taking part in the environment task force or the voluntary sector option. Young people taking part in the full time education and training option will have their travel costs met in full.

Earl Russell

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How they propose to apply welfare to work in rural areas in which there is no public transport. [HL347]

Baroness Blackstone

We have in hand a series of measures to ensure that New Deal clients in remote rural areas are not disadvantaged. We have had constructive discussions with the Rural Development Commission, passenger transport authorities and local authorities and practical help will be offered to New Deal clients. Travel allowances and discretionary fares are already on offer and other innovative solutions are being tested.