asked the Minister for Labour if he will make finance for the continuation of the enterprise allowance scheme available as a matter of extreme urgency; if he is aware of the frustration and hardship being caused to applicants because of the discontinuation of the scheme; and if people who have applied and are applying now could be dealt with retrospectively.
Written Answers. - Enterprise Allowance Scheme.
500.
The ceiling of 500 which had initially been placed on applications to the enterprise allowance scheme was removed by the Government on 10 February 1984. Application from persons who could not be admitted to the scheme up to now due to the limitation of spaces can now be considered.
The Government have also decided that to assist in the provision of adequate start-up capital the scheme will be modified so that in certain cases the pay related element of unemployment benefit may be capitalised and used as a lump sum.