§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what rules for payment of Jobseeker's Allowance apply to share fishermen who are temporarily out of work by reason of(a) vessel breakdown (b) lack of quota and (c) adverse weather. [83632]
§ Angela EagleIn order to receive contribution-based Jobseeker's Allowance a share fisherman must show that he has not failed to take up a reasonable opportunity of employment as a share fisherman. If he satisfies this condition, Jobseeker's Allowance may be paid. Examples of where this condition would count as satisfied include where the whole fleet has been unable to put to sea because of bad weather, if a share fisherman has fished his quota, or if he is undertaking necessary repairs to his boat.
§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if agreement has been reached on a standard earnings form for use by the Benefits368W Agency/Inland Revenue when calculating entitlement to Jobseeker's Allowance/Working Families Tax Credit by share fishermen. [83634]
§ Angela EagleA new form to collect earnings information from share fishermen is currently under development. The form has been developed in consultation with organisations representing the interests of share fishermen. The intention is that the form should be trialled in a few areas before it is used nationally.
Working Families Tax Credit is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will establish arrangements to enable share fishermen to confirm details of Jobseeker's Allowance claims in place of making fresh claims on condition that the repeat Jobseeker's Allowance claim is made within 12 weeks of the original application. [83635]
§ Angela EagleFrom June, share fishermen claiming Jobseeker's Allowance will be able to use a shorter claim form where there is a break of six weeks or less between claims.
§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what work is being undertaken in the course of the current pilot schemes examining the introduction of the single work-focused gateway to the special circumstances of share fishermen. [83636]
§ Angela EagleThe unique position of share fishermen in the benefit system will continue in the single work-focused gateway pilots. Share fishermen who go through the single work-focused gateway will be given the same help and support as other claimants in their efforts to find work.
§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make an official visit to Exmouth to meet representatives of the fishing industry to discuss the operation of Jobseeker's Allowance and Working Families Tax Credit to claims made by share fishermen. [83637]
§ Angela EagleIt would be helpful if, in the first instance, the hon. Member would ask local representatives from the fishing industry to write to me setting out any issues that they would like to raise about claims for Jobseeker's Allowance from share fishermen.
Working Families Tax Credit is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.