§ Mr. Bruce-Gardyneasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will set out in the OFFICIAL REPORT details, available to him from international sources, of subsidies paid from public funds to the families of men who have withdrawn their labour in pursuance of an industrial dispute in Sweden, Germany and those parts of the United States of America in which such payments exceed those made in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. EnnalsNeither the International Labour Organisation nor the International Social Security Association regards public assistance as being part of social security, and they do not publish much on the topic. The following notes on public assistance provision for strikers in the countries mentioned are based on in72W formation obtained by Labour Attachés last year.
Germany. A striker is eligible to receive benefits under the Federal Social Aid Law (Bundessozialhilfe Gesetz) to safeguard the subsistence of himself and his dependants. This aid is financed out of general taxation and is subject to a means test.
Sweden. A striker is eligible for relief payments from the community. These payments are subject to a means test, and a "stop" prevents a striker from getting more than he would ordinarily receive from the Unemployment Benefit Allowance.
United States of America. Strikers are eligible for public assistance for themselves and their families from inter alia New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and County programmes in Michigan and California. In addition certain Federal programmes have, by State discretion, been used to the benefit of strikers' families.
The information needed to show whether the average payments actually made to strikers under these means-tested schemes (as distinct from the financial support available to the striker) exceed the average payment made under the Supplementary Benefits Scheme (about £6) is not available.