§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what 196W evidence he has on the practice of workers who, having received holiday pay, absent themselves from work one or two days before the holiday, obtain a sick note from their doctor, and are then able to draw two weeks' sickness benefit.
(2) what representations he has received from the Oldham and District Textile Employers' Association relating to workers who obtain sickness benefit while away on holiday;
(3) what action he intends to take to prevent the practice of people at work who receive holiday pay absenting themselves two days before their holiday in order to obtain a sick note from their doctor in order to draw sickness benefit.
§ Mr. OrmeEntitlement to sickness benefit during a holiday period depends on the claimant being incapable of work because of specific disease or bodily or mental disablement, and satisfying the other conditions for benefit. We are aware that some doubtful claims are made at holiday periods. We must rely heavily in the first instance on the medical evidence provided by the family doctor. Where previous experience in the local office, or other evidence, shows that the number of claims increases substantially at holiday periods, special control procedures can be operated. These provide for benefit to be withheld until the claimant has been visited by a local officer of the Department or referred to the regional medical service for a second medical opinion on his incapacity for work. In the light of this additional evidence, the claim is then submitted to the insurance officer to decide entitlement.
The Oldham and District Textile Employers' Association has previously made representations on this subject; the latest letter was forwarded to me by the hon. Member on 13th April, and I will send a full reply as soon as possible. Liaison between my Department and local employers was arranged following earlier representations, and doubtful claims were specially scrutinised. The regional and local offices of my Department are fully alive to the importance of detecting and preventing this kind of abuse.