§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will seek to ensure unemployment and supplementary benefit claimants receive payment of housing benefit and unemployment benefit or supplementary benefit for Saturdays and Sundays whilst on jury service.
§ Mr. NewtonA claimant is not entitled to unemployment benefit during jury service, but he can claim compensation from the court for days of unemployment benefit lost, including any Saturday which falls within that period. As unemployment benefit is not payable for Sundays, no compensation can be claimed for that day. Supplementary benefit is not affected by periods of jury service and full weekly benefit continues to be paid in the normal way. Housing benefit is a means-tested weekly benefit and eligibility is not affected by a period of jury service.
§ Mr. Berminghamasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many persons, male and female, were admitted to hospital in the United Kingdom for treatment for the side effects of drugs in the benzodiazepine group in the years 1980, 1981, 1982 and 1983;
(2) what was the nature of the side effects for which people were admitted to hospital in the United Kingdom resulting from the taking of prescribed drugs in the benzodiazepine groups in the years 1980, 1981, 1982 and 1983; and if he will make a statement;
(3) whether his Department will publish the results of research sponsored by it into the side effects of taking drugs in the benzodiazepine group;
(4) what research has been sponsored by his Department into the side effects of prescribed drugs in the benzodiazepine group in the years 1980, 1981, 1982 and 1983.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeI shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.