§ 8. Mr. Roseasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the estimated cost of the recent strike by the Ulster Workers' Council to the British tax and social security payer.
§ Mr. ConcannonIt is estimated that £5 million was paid in emergency social security benefit during the recent stoppage. This sum will have to be borne by taxpayers and national insurance contributors throughout the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Bruce Gardyneasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what were the conditions of eligibility attached to the payment of supplementary benefit during the general strike in Northern Ireland; what were the number of claims for benefit received and the number rejected; what was the statutory authority for this operation; and what is now his latest estimate of the cost to public funds.
§ Mr. ConcannonUnder the emergency benefit scheme a uniform rate of benefit516W at the standard rate of unemployment benefit was paid to claimants who appeared to be in need and who made a simple declaration of need; earnings related and supplementary benefits were not paid.
About 200,000 claims were accepted; no information is available about the number rejected. The authority for payment was the Emergency (Payment of Benefit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1974, made on the advice of the Northern Ireland Executive by the Secretary of State under the Emergency Powers Act (Northern Ireland) 1926 as amended by the Emergency Powers (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 1964.
The cost to public funds is estimated to be about £5 million.