§ Mr. Cyril Smithasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what consultations his Department has had with the TUC and individual trade unions concerning the proposal to reduce unemployment benefit to persons in receipt of occupational pensions in excess of £25 a week; what representations were made by the trade unions; and if he has revised his proposals in light of the representations received.
Mr. OmitI met the TUC Social Policy Committee on 20th September 1976 and my right hon. Friend met the Council of Post Office Unions on 1st November 1976. We carefully considered the representations made, but, for reasons which will, no doubt, emerge during the passage of the legislation through Parliament, we were unable to amend our proposals in ways which the bodies concerned would have liked.