§ Mr. John Pageasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much has been paid out in National Assistance benefits to the dependent families of those on strike at the Ford Motor Company during February and March; how many individuals were involved; how much was paid out to those indirectly involved and how many fall into this category; and how many of his staff have been involved and at what cost.
§ Mr. EnnalsAbout 5,400 supplementary benefit payments totalling approximately £33,000 were made up to 11th March for the dependants of men involved in the Ford trade dispute. By "indirectly involved" I assume that the hon. Member has in mind those not disqualified for unemployment benefit by Section 22(1) of the National Insurance Act, 1965: the numbers in this category cannot be established until claims for unemployment benefit have been determined by the statutory authorities. The number of staff directly involved is now approximately 470, at an estimated daily cost of some £5,000.
§ Mr. John Pageasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish a list showing the amount of National Assistance benefit paid out to the dependent families of strikers, and to men laid off due to strikes, respectively, and the actual numbers of recipients in these two categories for each quarterly period during the last five years.
§ Mr. EnnalsThe table below gives details of national assistance/supplementary benefit payments to the dependent14W families of strikers for each quarter during the last five years. Similar information is not available for others laid off because of strikes.
Period Number of striker's families assisted Total number of payments made to these families Total amount paid £ 1964 Quarter ended: March 2,002 3,801 14,786 June 1,228 4,926 23,359 September 567 1,048 5,157 December 687 1,309 6,112 1965 Quarter ended: March 1,084 1,813 8,012 June 2,446 5,988 32,253 September 701 1,899 10,296 December 1,396 2,914 15,202 1966 Quarter ended: March 942 1,692 9,179 June 5,366 13,162 73,860 September 313 4,273 24,502 December 1,101 3,489 18,593 1967 Quarter ended: March 2,193 3,841 22,641 June 2,008 4,527 27,960 September 2,600 5,088 31,647 December 12,515 48,996 293,080 1968 Quarter ended: March 3,215 7,135 42,219 June 7,565 23,895 147,080 September 3,397 5,921 30,525 December 4,788 20,000 113,898