Charles Walker questions the Work and Pensions Secretary about travel and lunch reimbursements for people returning to work or performing voluntary work.

Mr. Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what research he has conducted into the impact that reasonable travel and lunch reimbursements have on supporting individuals re-entry into the labour market in a paid or voluntary capacity; and if he will make a statement; [82612]

(2) whether reasonable lunch and travel reimbursements will continue to be excluded from counting as earnings or income for people performing voluntary work; and if he will make a statement. [82613]

Mr. Plaskitt [holding answer 4 July 2006]: The Department for Work and Pensions has not carried out or commissioned specific research into the impact of reimbursing expenses to volunteers.

The Department for Work and Pensions has not undertaken any specific cost comparison of the cost of lunching at home, the work place or elsewhere; there are no plans to do so. However, we have received a number of representations from voluntary or charitable groups who have produced some evidence to suggest that many people on benefits may be discouraged from undertaking voluntary activity, or stop volunteering, had they not been able to claim the consequent additional costs of meals as an expense.

Volunteering plays an important role in helping people move off benefits and back into work. It gives people confidence, the chance to develop skills and to gain invaluable experience after a period out of work.

We do not want to create a situation whereby individuals are put off volunteering or are penalised from helping themselves and others because they cannot afford to buy something to eat.

We have therefore simplified the rules. Meals can now be treated as a reasonable expense which volunteers can claim back so that they are no longer expected to meet the cost of their lunch from their benefit.

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