§ 26. Dr. David Owenasked the Minister of Social Security how many persons affected by the wages standstill had been out of work for a year or more at the latest date for which figures are available.
§ Mr. LoughlinIn September, 1965 14,839 unemployed persons had their allowances restricted by reference to their usual weekly earnings; about 8,750 had been out of work for a year or more.
§ Dr. OwenWill my hon. Friend agree that a high proportion of these are disabled people, that this is causing great concern and that he should be able to shield them from the effect of the wage stop?
§ Mr. LoughlinI could not accept entirely, without notice, that there was a high proportion of these people who were disabled. I have not gone into it. It may well be so. However, as to the wage stop, this is a problem that can be solved only by more generous treatment on a family basis.