HC Deb 20 November 1969 vol 791 cc376-7W
Mr. Bruce-Gardyne

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services in how many instances, during the last period of 12 months for which information is available, sickness benefot has been paid to persons who have withdrawn their labour in an industrial dispute; and what was the total cost to public funds of such payments.

Mr. Ennals

There are special procedures for checking on claims from people known to be on strike, but it is not possible to identify all of them, especially where only part of the labour force is involved and those who are involved are spread over local offices in a wide area. Thus the figure asked for is not available.