§ Mr. Brooksasked the Minister of Social Security how many widows were refused unemployment benefit in 1966 because they had refused work offered them; and what investigations were conducted locally to ensure that the work offered to such women was suitable and not beyond their physical capacity.
§ Miss HerbisonI regret that the information asked for in the first part of the Question is not available. As regards the second part, unemployment benefit would not be refused unless the independent statutory authorities, who decide all claims for benefit, were satisfied on the facts of the individual case that the employment which had been refused was suitable.