This year's Social Welfare Act provides that students in full-time education will no longer be eligible to receive Unemployment Assistance except in circumstances and subject to such conditions and for such periods as may be prescribed in Regulations. I propose to make Regulations which will exempt categories such as mature students and students participating in educational schemes for the long term unemployed.
As I have already announced in the House, a new summer jobs scheme for students will be introduced this summer. The new scheme will cater for full-time students who cannot get summer jobs and who are no longer eligible to receive unemployment assistance during their summer holidays by virtue of this year's Social Welfare Act.
New Regulations will provide for students living at home who cannot get work under the new summer jobs scheme and whose family is dependent on a social welfare payment.