§ Mr. Leslie Huckfieldasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether he will make a statement about the inclusion of income tax rebates in the calculation of social security benefits for miners' families during each of the weeks of the recent dispute;
(2) what instructions have been issued by his Department's offices and special centres about disregarding income tax rebates and other sources of income in the calculation of benefits paid to miners and their families during each of the weeks of the miners' strike; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Sir K. JosephNo new instructions have been issued. Officers are expected to follow standing instructions which in accordance with the Social Security Act, 1971, provide for income tax refunds and other income available to a striker to be taken into account in full, subject to any disregard which may be appropriate.
§ Mr. Leslie Huckfieldasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) under what authorisation, or rules governing the confidentiality of information, his Department's offices and special centres have asked for details of individual income tax rebates during the miners' strike from the National Coal Board; and whether he will make a statement;
(2) how many of his Department's offices and special centres have been in receipt of details of individual miners tax rebates from the National Coal Board during the miners' strike; and whether he will make a statement;
(3) what consultations were held during the miners' strike between his Department and the National Coal Board, in order for the National Coal Board to forward copies of individual income tax rebates to his Department's offices and special centres; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Sir K. JosephUnder the regulations the Supplementary Benefits Commission is empowered to seek such information as it may require from a claimant for the purpose of determining his claim to sup-262W plementary benefit. Where evidence of tax refunds due is available from the employer, it is reasonable to use it to avoid delay in the assessment of claims for benefit. This was done in the miners' strike where practicable, as it is often done in large strikes. I do not know how many of the Department's local offices received this information.
§ Mr. Leslie Huckfieldasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what instructions have been issued to his Department's offices and special centres about taking account of income tax rebates in their calculation of B scale rates and other benefits for payment during the week beginning 28th February to miners who have returned to work; and whether he will make a statement;
(2) what instructions have been issued to his Department's offices and special centres about the calculation of scale rates and other benefits for payment this week to miners and their families who were on strike and have returned to work; and whether he will make a statement;
(3) what instructions have been issued to his Department's offices and special centres about disregarding income tax rebates and other sources of income during the calculation of social security benefits for miners and their families for payment during the week beginning 28th February; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Sir K. JosephNo new instructions have been issued. Officers are expected to follow standing instructions in dealing with claims from miners during the post-strike period. In accordance with the Social Security Act, 1971, income tax refunds which are available are taken into account in full subject to any disregard which may be appropriate.