asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether she will change the policy on granting of unemployment benefit, to make such benefit payable for days on which a person is continuing to attend an approved day-release training course entered into in his previous employment.

A claimant for unemployment benefit is not debarred from getting benefit merely because he is attending an approved day-release train- ing centre, provided that he remains available for work. I am not aware of any difficulty arising in this respect, and I would be grateful to have details from the hon. Member of any case which may be causing him concern.