HC Deb 14 April 1969 vol 781 cc776-7
18. Mr. Fortescue

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, as a result of the regular reviews of all new claims for supplementary benefit from unemployed persons under 45 years of age, made in the light of his predecessor's Answer to the hon. Member for Horncastle on 25th July 1968, he can now state what proportion of such applicants are not genuinely seeking work.

Mr. Ennals

No, Sir. The arrangements to which the hon. Member refers are not designed to provide any such figure, but to encourage people who are fit and for whom jobs are available to find suitable work as quickly as possible.

Mr. Fortescue

The Minister refuses to answer my Question, though I see no reason why the information should be kept secret, but would he not agree that the scheme introduced by the previous Minister has been well worth while? In view of the fact that in the financial year that has just ended the cost of unemployment benefit will have approached the staggering figure of £200 million, does he not agree that some such scheme is urgently necessary in employment exchanges as well?

Mr. Ennals

I did not refuse to answer the hon. Gentleman's Question. The figures for which he asked are not available, as I said, but I agree that the steps taken by my right hon. Friend have proved successful. I can give the hon. Gentleman some figures. Two steps were taken with regard to fit, unemployed persons under the age of 45. First, in areas where jobs are available, single, unskilled men are told at the outset that their allowance will be limited to four weeks. That step applies to about 2,000 cases a week. Secondly, in other cases the allowance is reviewed after it has been running for three months. The claimant may then be told that he can continue for only a further four weeks. This step applies to about 200 cases a week.

Mr. Worsley

Does not the Minister of State recognise that there is very wide public concern over this matter? Will he not be a little more communicative to the House and say exactly what is being done?

Mr. Ennals

I am being extremely communicative to the House. I have just given information about the precise steps taken by my right hon. Friend. It was because there was concern that a minority of people were taking advantage of the provisions that my right hon. Friend acted in this way. I am now demonstrating to the House by means of a great deal of information that the steps my right hon. Friend decided then to take have proved very worth while.

Mr. Heffer

Is it not clear to my hon. Friend that people receive a greater amount of income precisely because the present Government are much more concerned about unemployment than ever any Tory Government were?

Hon. Members

Oh.

Mr. Ennals

I agree. By a number of steps we have taken, including the short-term graduated system, we have shown that we are concerned not only with the unemployed but with all those who are facing difficulties, whose needs are being met not only by National Insurance but by supplementary benefits.