(2) if he will estimate the annual cost to his Department of allowing jobseeker's allowance claimants under 24 to train full-time for (a) 13 and (b) 26 weeks at the beginning of their claim period; and if he will make a statement.
Even in the current economic climate, we would expect most customers to move into work relatively quickly without the need to re-train in new skills. Our policies will continue to help them to do that to avoid the costs, both to individuals and to Government, of delaying a return to work and keeping people on benefits for longer than necessary. There is therefore no current basis on which to make estimates of the costs of extending the training opportunities described to customers from the start of a claim.
Jobseeker's allowance (JSA) recipients can train for up to 16 hours per week alongside active job search.
They may also undertake up to two weeks of full-time training in any 12-month period, without jeopardising their benefit entitlements. Additionally, from 6 April anyone who has been unemployed more than six months can study full time for up to eight weeks on a job related training course approved by an employment adviser (operationally we do this by transferring the customer to a training allowance).
People from disadvantaged groups, or those for whom lack of basic skills is a barrier to employment, are eligible for training support from day one of unemployment. Jobcentre Plus Personal Advisers are also able to agree early access to the job-search and training support offered by the New Deal for people whose circumstances may make it particularly hard to find work.
In addition, the Government announced last autumn that additional funding of £158 million has been made available through the European Social Fund for the Learning and Skills Council's Train to Gain programme for people who are newly unemployed or facing redundancy to undertake training linked to opportunities in the local labour market for up to two weeks full time and up to eight weeks part time.