§ Mr. Nicholas Edwardsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will amend the regulations so that unemployed persons are not discouraged from taking part in the work of the 1971 census; and how many days unemployment benefit would be lost by such persons.
§ Sir K. JosephThe operation of the regulations to which my hon. Friend refers is under consideration. I understand that the independent determining authorities, who decide all claims for unemployment benefit, regard census enumerators as following an occupation and their earnings as accruing from 1st April to 10th May, inclusive, which will preclude the payment of unemployment benefit for any day in that period.