Vol. 428 No. 1
472 Ms. McManus asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the fact that people on lone parents allowance who are unemployed but not on the live register, are barred from participation in vocational training opportunity schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter particularly on the way in which she intends to eliminate the discrimination.
508 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Education if she will make the vocational training opportunity scheme available to people who are not on the live register, for example lone parents and deserted wives.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 472 and 508 together.
The question of expanding the VTOS to include lone parents and certain other categories of people, who are not on the live register, is currently under consideration. This consideration involves consultation with a number of other Government Departments and a decision will be made at the earliest possible date.
