§ 80. Mrs. Knightasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to end the present arrangements whereby strikers whose claim is settled on a Thursday are encouraged to avoid working on the Friday because of the adverse effect on their social security payments.
§ Sir K. JosephIf my hon. Friend has in mind supplementary benefit, there is at 85W present no encouragement to avoid working on a Friday. Regulation 2 of the Supplementary Benefit (Recovery by Deductions from Earnings) Regulations 1972, SI 1972/329, provides that where, by reason of arrangements for dealing with supplementary benefit payments in connection with a stoppage of work, some claimants are paid for the terminal week before, and some after, return to work, the latter are also to qualify for benefit which is not recoverable under the provisions of Section 2 of the Social Security Act, 1971. The sole purpose of this regulation is to ensure equal treatment for all strikers, regardless of the date of payment of benefit.