§ 21. Mr. Bruce-Gardyneasked the Secretary of State for Social Services 187 what was the total cost to public funds of supplementary benefits for the families of persons involved in industrial disputes, and of administrative arrangements related thereto, in the first 10 months of 1970, 1965, 1960, 1955 and 1950, respectively.
§ Mr. DeanAs the reply contains a table of figures I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. Bruce-GardyneWould my hon. Friend not agree that at the present rate of progress the amount of strike subsidy next year will be running at about £1½ million? Has not the time arrived to suggest to the unions that they finance their own strikes, instead of expecting the taxpayer to do it for them?
§ Mr. DeanMy right hon. Friend is looking at all the problems involved here and I must ask my hon. Friend to await his consideration of them.
§ Mr. O'MalleySince it has been the policy of successive Governments not to attempt to get at strikers by starving their families and denying them benefits, would the hon. Gentleman confirm that, in this respect at least, the neutrality of the State will remain as it has remained?
§ Mr. DeanThere is no question of getting at strikers, I can assure the hon. Gentleman and the House. But we have to take into account the figures, in view of the very bad strike record under the previous Administration.
§ Mr. HefferWould the hon. Gentleman not agree that the answer to the strike problem is not to get involved in taking away assistance from the families of the strikers but to improve the existing conciliation machinery in the various industries? Is he aware that the Government are starting from the wrong end?
Following is the table:National assistance and supplementary benefit payments to families of persons involved in industrial disputes.
Year £ 1950 9,000 Estimated 1955 120,000 1960 65,000 1965 62,000 1970 867,000 (to September)