§ Mr. WillisTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the impact of686W withdrawing social security benefit from adults unwilling to have their basic skills levels tested; and if he will make a statement. [3371]
§ Malcolm WicksThe Government set out their strategy for helping adults improve their basic skills in the document "Skills for Life", published in March this year. This strategy includes a strong focus on helping unemployed people improve their literacy and numeracy skills and so increase their chances of getting and keeping a job. As part of our overall strategy, it is right that we pilot arrangements to sanction people receiving jobseeker's allowance who refuse to take up offers of help in improving their basic skills. The pilots, which we propose to implement in the autumn, will be fully evaluated.