HC Deb 11 April 1972 vol 834 cc145-7W
Mr. Dell

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many men and how many women claimed unemployment benefit in 1970 and in 1971; and what information for the area of the Sheffield Regional Hospital Board shows the main relevant specialties which include, generally as a minority of the table listed, the conditions referred to in the Questions

proportion these figures represented of the male and female working population, respectively.

Mr. Dean

It is estimated that in 1970 1,808,000 men claimed unemployment benefit, representing 11.3 per cent. of the mid-year male working population. The estimated figures for 1971 are 2,073,000 and 13 per cent.

The corresponding figures for women are, for 1970, 369,0004.1 per cent.—and for 1971, 462,000–5.2 per cent.

Mr. Dell

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of those unemployed during 1971 received unemployment benefit.

Mr. Dean

This information is not available.

Mr. Dell

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion and number of those unemployed for six months or less are receiving the earnings-related benefit.

Mr. Dean

On 1st November, 1971, 164,000 people who had been unemployed for six months or less were getting earnings-related supplement to unemployment benefit. It is estimated that the numbers qualifying would have increased to 184,000 after necessary further inquiries. The proportions these figures represented of those wholly unemployed for six months or less were 28 per cent. and 32 per cent., respectively of those wholly unemployed for six months or less but more than two weeks—which is the qualifying period for the supplement—the proportions were 36 per cent. and 40 per cent., respectively.

Mr. Dell

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what number and proportion of unemployed men and of unemployed women had exhausted their unemployment benefit at the latest available date.

Mr. Dean

On 7th February, 1972, the latest date for which figures are available, 172,000 men—21.3 per cent, of the total registered as unemployed—and 12,000 women—8.1 per cent, of the total registered as unemployed—had exhausted their entitlement to unemployment benefit.

Mr. Bishop

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services under what circumstances married women and school leavers who become unemployed are not entitled to unemployment benefit or supplementary allowances; and if he will review the position.

Mr. Dean

In the case of unemployment benefit the reason is usually that insufficient national insurance contributions have been paid; many married women exercise their right not to contribute to the scheme.

For supplementary benefit purposes the requirements and resources of a married woman must be aggregated with those of her husband, so that if he is in full-time work there is no entitlement to a supplementary allowance. School leavers under 16 years are not entitled to supplementary benefit; those over 16 are entitled to benefit if their resources are less than their requirements.

We have no proposals for reviewing these conditions.