§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his estimate of the weekly cost to public funds of the exceptional payment of two days' unemployment benefit per week to persons formerly working a five-day week and now working four days per week at the Jaguar factory.
§ Mr. John FraserIf most of the 7,500 employees qualify for two days' unemployment benefit a week it is estimated that the cost may be about £35,000 a week.
§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Employment under what powers he has authorised the payment of two days' unemployment benefit to employees of the Jaguar car factory when working a four-day week, despite the fact that five-day working has been practised in the past and when working four days of a five-day week no unemployment benefit is normally payable.
§ Mr. John FraserThe Secretary of State for Employment has not authorised payments because neither he nor any other Minister has the power to do so. All awards of unemployment benefit are made by the independent adjudicating authorities.
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