§ Mr. Sproatasked the Secretary of State for Social Services under what circumstances an unemployed person can draw unemployment benefit or supplementary benefit in respect of unemployment, while he is on holiday in the United Kingdom, in the Republic of Ireland, or elsewhere abroad; whether such a person can draw benefit while in the place where he is on holiday as opposed to collecting all benefits due when he returns home; and how many weeks in the year an unemployed person can go on holiday and receive benefit, either at home or away.
§ Mr. OrmeInformation about the circumstances in which unemployment benefit may be paid to an unemployed person on holiday in the United Kingdom, and the length of time for which such benefit can be paid, was given in my replies to the hon. Gentleman on 14th and 21st July 1977—[Vol. 935 c.217–18, 674.] Unemployment benefit could only be paid at the holiday location if the person registered there for employment and the independent adjudicating authorities were satisfied that he was available for work in the area. Britsh unemployment benefit is not: payable for any period spent outside the United Kingdom or the Isle of Man except where a person who has been registered as unemployed in this country, normally for at least four weeks, goes to a member state of the EEC and registers for employment there, when he can continue to receive benefit for up to 13 weeks.
Supplementary benefit is payable only to people in Great Britain; those taking not more than two weeks' holiday may receive the benefit on their return home provided they have remained available for work throughout.