§ Mr. Sproatasked the Secretary of State for Social Services under what circumstances his Department pays social security benefits to one man who voluntarily gives up his job in respect of his wife, his mistress, and their children, all living in the same house.
§ Mr. OrmeAny person who voluntarily gives up his employment without just cause is disqualified from receiving unemployment benefit for up to six weeks. Thereafter any unemployment benefit which a man receives may be increased in respect of his children and either his wife78W or a woman looking after those children, but not both.
Where unemployment benefit has been withheld, any supplementary benefit payable for the same period is reduced by up to £505 a week; if a suitable job is immediately available to him, benefit may be refused altogether. Subject to this, payment of benefit to a man who was living with both a wife and a mistress would be on the same basis as to one living with two wives as set out in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. Lewis) on 12th October 1976.—[Vol. 918, c. 108.]