asked the Secretary of State for Employment what were the amounts and percentages by which the job release allowances for (a) able-bodied people and (b) disabled people were uprated in April; what is the justification for the difference in treatment of disabled people; and if he will make a statement.

The job release scheme does not have separate rates of allowance for disabled and able-bodied people. If allowances under the job release scheme are payable for more than one year, then they are subject to tax. Allowances payable for less than a year are comparable but tax-free. In each category, there is a higher and lower level allowance, depending upon marriage and the spouse's weekly income.