§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much of the £1,000,163 paid out in supplementary allowances to strikers and their dependants during the building strike has been repaid.
§ Mr. DeanIn addition to the amount paid during the dispute, which is not recoverable, post-dispute payments totalling £132,736 were made and are being recovered in accordance with the Social Security Act, 1971.
§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much of the £5,523,480 paid out to strikers and their dependants in the mining strike has been repaid.
§ Mr. DeanNone, because the provisions of the Social Security Act, 1971, for recovering supplementary benefit paid following resumption of work did not take effect until 3rd April, 1972.
§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total amount paid out so far this year in supplementary benefits to strikers and their dependants; and if he will express this figure as a percentage of the total paid to strikers and their dependants in 1968.
§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many special assessment officers were engaged in paying out supplementary allowances to strikers and their dependants during the miners' strike, and the builders' strike, respectively; and how many special assessment officers are now employed by his Department.
§ Mr. DeanPayments to strikers and their dependants are made by officers of the Department who are temporarily diverted from other duties; there is no question of employing special assessment officers for this purpose. The staff cost of dealing with claims arising from the miners' dispute was about 10,000 man-weeks; it is not practicable to make a corresponding estimate for the building workers' dispute.