§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the restoration of Jobseeker's Allowance to term-time workers. [139667]
§ Angela EagleI have been asked to reply.
Following the decision of the Court of Appeal on 14 October 1999, the current legal position is that ancillary workers with an on-going contract of employment, who are not entitled to Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) or Income Support (IS) during term-time because of the hours they work, are also not entitled to JSA or IS during the school holidays.
Leave to appeal to the House of Lords against the Court of Appeal decision was granted on 11 April and we understand that the appeal has been listed for hearing on 21 March 2001. We are awaiting the outcome of the case and will consider carefully any implications of the House of Lords judgment once the precise details are known.
Where any doubts exist over entitlement to JSA or IS, school ancillary workers may make a claim, which will be decided on an individual basis. School ancillary workers with low incomes may claim in-work benefits such as Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit. Those with children may also be eligible for the Working Families Tax Credit.