§ Mr. Ashtonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services why Mr. T. J. Buckle of 30 Coniston road, Worksop, who quit his job at Manton colliery last June is still being refused benefit and classed as a striking miner.
§ Mr NewtonA person who loses employment as a result of a stoppage of work due to a trade dispute at his place of empoyment is disqualified for receiving unemployment benefit unless he can show that he is not participating or directly interested in the dispute. Such disqualification continues for as long as the stoppage of work continues, unless he finds genuine work elsewhere in his normal occupation or becomes regularly engaged in some other occupation.
It is for the independent adjudicating authorities to decide whether the stoppage of work has ended in the light of the situation at each individual place of employment, and I understand that the adjudication officer has decided that the last day of the stoppage at Manton colliery was 30 March 1985. Benefit will therefore be payable from 1 April, subject to the usual three waiting days, to any ex-miners previously disqualified due to this stoppage.