§ 8. Mr. Martenasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he will take steps to prevent retired senior officers, who are drawing full pension from the State, from simultaneously drawing unemployment benefit.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterNo. Sir. If they satisfy all the conditions for unemployment benefit, including availability for suitable work, I do not think it would be right to introduce a means test to deprive this particular class of the benefit for which they have contributed.
§ Mr. MartenWhile recognising that these people are quite within the law in drawing unemployment benefit, does the Minister not agree that it is a slight moral abuse of unemployment benefit that they should be drawing a sizeable State pension at the same time as they are drawing unemployment benefit?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterNo, Sir. Provided that the man concerned is available for and accepts suitable work when offered, I think it is right to treat him as one treats all other contributors to the Fund.