§ Mr. Chapmanasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether she will make a statement about the denial of unemployment benefit to the men thrown out of work by, but not involved in, the strike of 300 maintenance men at the Longbridge works of the British Motor Corporation.
§ Miss HerbisonIn accordance with the usual practice when the unemployment benefit position of a large number of workers is affected by similar circumstances, test claims were taken from representative claimants employed at Longbridge who lost employment as a result of the recent stoppage of work. I understand that the effect of the insurance officer's decision on these claims is that the great majority of workers 255W at Longbridge are disqualified for unemployment benefit under the trade dispute disqualification provisions of the National Insurance Act. There are rights of appeal against the insurance officer's decision to the local tribunal and, ultimately, to the National Insurance Commissioner. Claims by workers at other places of employment who were laid off as a result of the stoppage of work at Longbridge are not, of course, affected by the trade dispute disqualification.