Mr. John McKeon:

The tax and social welfare review group, chaired by Ms Ita Mangan, examined the issue. I cannot recall the details, but a review was undertaken. The committee should be aware that the nearly 90% of people who presented as self-employed and did not qualify for jobseeker's benefit ultimately qualified for the jobseeker's allowance, which is the means-tested scheme. That was a high proportion, which reflects the fact that many people who are self-employed - trades people, crafts people and so on - do not necessarily have the large reservoirs of personal wealth that would disqualify them from a means-tested allowance.