HC Deb 02 December 1980 vol 995 cc122-4W
Mr. Rowlands

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many unemployed people in (a) the Merthyr borough, (b) Wales and (c) the United Kingdom, have been deprived of benefit as a result of their refusal to attend, or their decision to leave prematurely, the Henley-in-Arden work camp, Warwickshire.

Mrs. Chalker

Benefit can be withdrawn in these circumstances only if the claimant is subject to a direction under section 10 of the Supplementary Benefits Act 1976, and refuses to comply with it. I regret that the precise information requested is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, it is known that in 1979, in the whole of Great Britain, only 330 such directions were obtained and that only 54 of the claimants involved actually went to centres. It was the experience of the Supplementary Benefits Commission, which was responsible for these centres until 23 November 1980, that most directed claimants who did not go to centres went to work instead. Prior to 24 November, a section 10 direction did not relate to a specific reestablishment centre.

Mr. Rowlands

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many unemployed people from (a) Wales and (b) the United Kingdom have been sent in the last year to the Henley-in-Arden work camp, Warwickshire; and how many have remained there for the whole of the period which they were required to spend there.

Mrs. Chalker

During the 12 months to 30 September 1980, 31 unemployed men from Wales attended courses at Henley-in-Arden re-establishment centre including eight who were subject to direction under section 10 of the Supplementary Benefits Act, 1976. There is no set length of course but they are generally less than 13 weeks. Eighteen men stayed for 13 weeks.

During the same period, 258 unemployed men from other areas of the United Kingdom attended the centre, including 13 under direction and of these 153 completed a course.

Mr. Rowlands

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether he will pay a visit to the Henley-in-Arden work camp, Warwickshire; and whether he will review the role and purpose of the camp;

(2) whether he will personally review those cases of people who have had benefit withheld as a result of their refusal to attend, or their decision to leave prematurely, the Henley-in-Arden work camp, Warwickshire;

(3) whether he will list the crafts, trades, or skills taught at the Henley-in-Arden work camp, Warwickshire.

Mrs. Chalker

Henley-in-Arden is one of 17 centres run by the Department to provide re-establishment courses in accordance with section 30 of and schedule 5 to the Supplementary Benefits Act 1976. All of these centres cater for day attenders and three, including Henley, also provide residential courses. I visited the Henley centre on 14 November 1980. Most centres were opened in the 1960s although Henley has been in operation since 1956.

The object of these centres is to help long-term unemployed men who have lost the self-assurance, drive and dependability to obtain or cope with a job. The main activity is simple woodwork requiring only the basic elements of carpentry instruction. Some centres—including Henley—also provide gardening, plant growing and concrete work. No specific trades or skills are taught.

Centre managers can refer cases to the manpower Service Commission if specific training seems appropriate and a small number go direct from re-establishment centres to skill courses. There are no plans for changes in the role of the centres.

Most men who attend these centres do so voluntarily, but section 10 of the Supplementary Benefits Act 1976 gives benefit officers the power to direct a claimant to attend a course as a condition for receiving benefit, if in his opinion, the claimant is refusing or neglecting to maintain himself or his dependents. My right hon. Friend has no power to review these decisions which are made by independent statutory authorities, but there is of course a right of appeal to a tribunal. (Prior to 24 November 1980 such directions were made by tribunals at the application of the Supplementary Benefits Commission.)

Mr. Rowlands

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many unemployed people from the Merthyr borough have been sent to the Henley-in-Arden work camp, Warwickshire; and how many remained there for (a) one week, (b) one month and (c) three months.

Mrs. Chalker

During the year to 30 September 1980, only two men from Merthyr borough attended Henley-in-Arden re-establishment centre. They both left of their own accord after less than two weeks' attendance.

Mr. Rowlands

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many unemployed people sent from Wales to the Henley-in-Arden work camp, Warwickshire, have subsequently found employment within (a) one month and (b) three months of their leaving the camp.

Mrs. Chalker

During the year to 30 September 1980, 31 unemployed men from Wales attended Henley-in-Arden re-establishment centre. Of them, six were placed directly into employment on leaving the centre and a further five started work within one month of their return home. Information about any others starting work within three months is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.