HC Deb 12 December 1966 vol 738 cc13-4
17. Sir W. Bromley-Davenport

asked the Minister of Labour what action he proposes to take in the case of an unemployed person who refuses to take up employment because he receives more money from the State for doing nothing.

Mr. Gunter

That must depend on the circumstances.

Sir W. Bromley-Davenport

Is it not possible for the right hon. Gentleman to ensure that his officials take up a more realistic attitude in the public interest in cases of this kind and insist either that the individual concerned takes up suitable employment when it is offered and keeps it, or loses his insurance benefit?

Mr. Gunter

This is the second time the hon. and gallant Gentleman has endowed me with far more power than I possess. The hon. and gallant Gentleman will know, or he ought to know, that according to a leading decision of a tribunal of National Insurance Commissioners the question whether a claimant would be worse off financially by accepting a situation is not in itself relevant to the question whether he is disqualified under Section 22 of the National Insurance Act.