The main administrative and statistical changes in the live register in the past ten years have been as follows:
(a) The pre-retirement allowance scheme and the pre-retirement credits scheme were introduced in March 1990 and August 1990 respectively.
These schemes currently allow persons aged 55 years and over to make a declaration that they have retired from the labour market. Such persons are thus excluded from the live register.
(b) From May 1992, the systematic short-time category was extended to incorporate persons on "week on/week off" working arrangements who worked for 50 per cent or more of their normal working days in the previous four weeks. Such persons are excluded from the live register because of their strong job attachment.
(c) UA smallholders had been excluded from the Register since 1966. Other self-employed persons in receipt of UA as a means of income support were also excluded with effect from May 1992.
The numbers of persons in these categories in August 1995 are:
PRECS and PRETA:
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17,509
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“Week on/Week off”:
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1,500 (estimated)
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Self Employed:
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3,500
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The CSO's monthly live register statement includes separate tables giving details of those categories excluded from the register.