Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Jobstart Allowances – 18 November 1986

Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Jobstart Allowances on 18th November 1986.

Mr. Frank Cook Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether people who accept low paid employment with the intention of applying for jobstart allowances, but who are subsequently refused the allowance, are liable to have their supplementary benefit reduced under regulation 8 of the Supplementary Benefit (Requirements) Regulations if they leave the job as a result of being refused the jobstart allowance; and whether he will make a statement.

Mr. Major In law, a person who voluntarily leaves a job without just cause is disqualified for receiving unemployment benefit for up to 13 weeks. Any supplementary benefit that he may be entitled to is reduced under regulation 8 of the Supplementary Benefit (Requirements) Regulations for the same period. Whether a person has just cause for leaving his employment is a question for the independent adjudication authorities who have regard to any reasons that the person advances. Whether refusal of jobstart allowances was just cause for leaving a job would be decided by those authorities in the circumstances of the individual case.