§ Mr. Bruce-Gardyneasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether it is the practice of the Supplementary 260W Benefits Commission to disregard holiday pay when calculating the entitlement of individuals involved in an industrial dispute and their families to supplementary benefit.
§ Sir K. JosephNo. Holiday pay is normally treated as earnings and not disregarded.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services on how many occasions the Supplementary Benefits Commission has taken criminal proceedings against a person who persistently refuses or neglects to maintain any person for whom he is liable and for whom supplementary benefit is paid as a result of such refusal or neglect; and, over any convenient period, on how many occasions it has been asked to do so.
§ Mr. DeanThe total number of such prosecutions under Section 30 of the Ministry of Social Security Act, 1966 heard in each year since 1967—including a few instituted under the corresponding provisions of the National Assistance Act. 1948—were as follows:
Year Unemployed Men* Liable Relatives Total 1967‡ 95 716 811 1968 88 597 685 1969 106 598 704 1970 58 675 733 1971 64 614 678 * For persistent refusal or neglect to maintain themselves and any dependants. † For persistent refusal or neglect to maintain other persons whom they were liable to maintain under Section 22 of the Act. ‡ First complete year. I regret that no information is available as regards the number of occasions on which the Supplementary Benefits Commission has been asked to take such proceedings.