§ Ms Roseanna CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people were awarded postal status due to hardship incurred by travel expenses to sign on at the nearest job centre in the last five years, broken down by region. [155094]
§ Ms Jowell[holding answer 26 March 2001]: Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its Chief Executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Clare Dodgson to Ms Roseanna Cunningham, dated 28 March 2001
As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked Leigh Lewis to reply to your question about the number of people awarded postal status due to hardship incurred in attending Jobcentres. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to Mr Lewis as Chief Executive of the Agency. I am replying as Chief Operating Officer for the Employment Service.
678WIn further education, 16 to 18-year-olds are not required to pay fees. For those aged 19 and over, colleges charge or waive fees according to their own policies. However, there is full fee remission for disadvantaged groups including those on means-tested state benefits.