Press Release

28^th May 2008

Stoke-on-Trent MP Wins Fight for the City’s Unemployed

Stoke North MP Joan Walley has won her fight to ease restrictions in the city from the so-called ‘16 Hour Rule’.  This rule restricted people who are claiming Jobseekers Allowance to study for no more than 16 hours per week.  If they studied for longer they would lose their benefit.  This has proved a great hindrance to people attempting to improve their skills in order to get a job and has exacerbated long term unemployment.  A number of pathfinder projects across the country have been exempted from the restriction and positive results have been seen upon employment.  Stoke-on-Trent was not included in the original pathfinder projects but Ms Walley has been fighting for its inclusion.  In a letter received today from Liam Byrne MP, Minister for the West Midlands, the city, and indeed the whole of the West Midlands region, has been included within a pilot programme. 

Ms Walley said “I am delighted that these restrictions have been relaxed for people living in Stoke on Trent.   People should be encouraged to seek training whilst unemployed in order to increase their opportunities to work and the ’16 hour rule’ was restricting this.  I thank the DWP and Job Centre Plus for listening to the needs of the area and working with me to help unemployed people in the region improve their skills”.

Notes For Editors:

• The relaxation is aimed specifically at JSA claimants aged over 25 who have been claiming for at least 12 months
• Original pilot areas included Birmingham, Coventry, Black Country, Liverpool, Leicester and Nottingham amongst others
• For more information please contact Simon Oswald on 0207 2196985