HC Deb 05 November 1986 vol 103 cc477-8W
Mr. Hancock

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps his Department has taken to ensure the maximum possible uptake of unemployment benefit.

Mr. Lyell

People who are out of work and are looking for a job will usually approach one of the 1,000 jobcentres or 1,180 unemployment benefit offices throughout the country. Details of unemployment benefit and who can qualify are given in leaflets available at those offices Leaflets are also available in DHSS local offices and at Post Offices. No information is available to show how many people who have paid national insurance contributions and qualify for benefit fail to make a claim but unemployment benefit is a long established and well known contributory benefit and I have no reason to think that the number who fail to claim this benefit when entitled is in any way significant.