HC Deb 09 February 1970 vol 795 cc894-5
23 and 42. Mr. Bruce-Gardyne

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will set out the aggregate cost to public funds of supplementary benefits paid to the families of persons engaged in industrial disputes in each year since 1951;

(2) what estimate he has made of the cost to public funds of supplementary benefits paid to the families of persons engaged in industrial disputes during the current financial year; and how this figure compares with the corresponding out-turn for the financial year 1964–65.

Mr. O'Malley

During the current financial year to date, payment of supplementary benefit made during industrial disputes totalled £585,000. The comparable national assistance figure for the 1964–65 financial year was about £43,000. The increase in payments in 1969, as compared with 1964, is due mainly, not to an increase in the number of stoppages but to an increase in their duration. I will, with permission, circulate the figures for 1951–69 in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Bruce-Gardyne

Is there not something rather symbolic about the fact that the fastest appreciating growth stock in the entire British economy under this Government, faster than the rise in the Civil Service or unemployment, or the accumulation of foreign debts, has been a 1,400 per cent. increase in subsidisation of strikes by the taxpayer?

Mr. O'Malley

I think that what the hon. Member must bear in mind is that this figure has over the years fluctuated very widely. Between 1953 and 1955 there was a fifteenfold increase in the figure.

Following are the figures:

PAYMENT OF SUPPLEMENTARY BENEFIT/NATIONAL ASSISTANCE TO THE DEPENDANTS OF STRIKERS
Calendar Year Amount
£
1951 … … … … … 37,524
1952 … … … … … 30,493
1953 … … … … … 10,896
1954 … … … … … 55,511
1955 … … … … … 153,466
1956 … … … … … 25,381
1957 … … … … … 121,718
1958 … … … … … 80,002
1959 … … … … … 65,959
1960 … … … … … 75,326
1961 … … … … … 90,366
1962 … … … … … 52,511
1963 … … … … … 26,876
1964 … … … … … 49,413
1965 … … … … … 65,763
1966 … … … … … 126,134
1967 … … … … … 375,330
1968 … … … … … 333,722
1969 … … … … … 747,141

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