§ Mr. ElletsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment his Department has made of the special problems faced by tourist resorts with regard to the numbers of claimants of DSS benefits.
§ Mr. BurtAlthough the Government recognise that there will be a number of benefit recipients included among the many visitors to tourist resorts, they are not persuaded that it is desirable or practicable to restrict the movement of unemployed people. The free movement of people around the country is an essential feature of an efficient labour market.
In all parts of the country the Employment Service assesses whether or not unemployed people are entitled to the benefits they are claiming, in accordance with social security legislation. Benefit is paid only where the conditions of entitlement are satisfied.
The housing benefit scheme requires local authorites to refuse benefit wherever they feel that a tenancy has been created with the intention of taking advantage of the scheme. This provision is designed to give local authorities a wider power to apply in cases of such abuse whether by landlords, tenants or both in collusion.