§ 33. Mr. Roy Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps are being taken to pay benefits to workpeople employed at the Spencer Works, Llanwern, Newport, Monmouthshire, following the recent industrial dispute at the plant.
§ Mr. Robert C. BrownWorkers who lost employment during the stoppage of work were disqualified for receiving unemployment benefit. I understand that appeals against disqualification have been lodged. Claims for supplementary benefit from persons affected by the stoppage are being dealt with under normal rules by local offices of my Department.
§ 34. Mr. Staintonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the total cost of supplementary benefits paid to strikers and to their families in the last available 12-month period, and in each of the seven preceding periods of 12 months.
§ Mr. Robert C. BrownThe figures are as follows:
TOTAL COST OF SUPPLEMENTARY BENEFITS PAID TO STRIKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES IN THE YEARS 1966–1973 Year Strikers Strikers Families Total £ £ £ 1966 … 1,454 126,134 127,588 1967 … 1,770 375,330 377,100 1968 … 749 333,722 334,471 1969 … 1,401 747,141 748,542 1970 … 2,191 1,445,912 1,448,103 1971 … 5,434 4,309,149 4,314,583 1972 … 181,447 8,380,124 8,561,571 1973 … 2,950 729,302 732,252
§ 35. Mr. Kimballasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the total cost of supplementary benefits paid to miners on strike, and to the families of miners on strike, during the recent dispute in the coal mining industry.
§ Mr. Robert C. BrownComplete information is not yet available; the64W amounts provisionally recorded by 12th March were £44,000 and £4.1 million respectively.