Ms Alice-Mary Higgins:

Apologies for running over time. The key point I would make is that research has found that where jobseeker claimants are claiming an extension for qualified adults there is only 67% of the normal rate of claim closure. These are jobless households which are not closing claims. Reports have also found that 50% of qualified adults make use of a small income disregard available to them. That shows that many women are keen to engage with the labour market. That is the reason qualified adults in many cases may have more to gain and contribute in terms of access to activation or training opportunities. Opening up opportunities to both partners could have a positive impact on reducing the number of jobless households.

I will not elaborate on them but there are four factors to be considered in this regard. Choice is fundamental. It must be voluntary and decision-making must lie with qualified adults. An appropriate range of options must be made available. I referred to individualisation earlier. Education first approaches are often most appropriate for qualified adults, and the 2010 reversal in access to training could be revisited. Child care, as I discussed, is another factor and also the question of training for case workers because research has found that job centre staff specifically lack knowledge in engaging with internal decision-making in households around the power dynamics to which I referred.