§ 18. Mr. Wallasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he is taking to modify the benefits paid to families of men on strike.
§ Sir K. JosephThe Government are reviewing the existing arrangements.
§ 54. Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total amount of social security payments to all strikers which are recoverable that have been made since the 1971 Social Security Act became operative; how much has so far been recovered; and at what cost.
§ Sir K. JosephAt 31st October approximately £232,000, of which £207,000 had then been recovered. I regret that the cost of recovery is not available.
§ 57. Mr. Bruce-Gardyneasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what 52W was the total cost of supplementary benefits paid to those involved in the Jaguar strike, and their dependants, including payments made after return to work and not recovered, and administrative arrangements necessitated thereby.
§ Sir K. JosephThe figures are as follows:
Payments of Supplementary Benefit to Claimants involved in the Jaguar Cars dispute £ For strikers' dependants 25,029 For strikers 78 Following resumption of work 1,456 All payments made following resumption of work are recoverable. The administrative cost is not available.
§ 68. Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much of the post-dispute social security payments made to building workers during their recent strike amounting to £132,736 has so far been recovered; and at what cost.
§ Sir K. JosephIt is not possible to identify the amounts recovered in relation to particular strikes. The intention is that all post-dispute payments for any strike will be recovered during the 10 weeks following the first fortnight after resumption of work. I regret that the administrative cost to employers and my Department is not available.
§ Mr. Bruce-Gardyneasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what was the total cost of supplementary benefits paid to those involved in the building industry dispute, and their dependants, including payments made after return to work and not recovered, and administrative arrangements necessitated thereby;
(2) if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the total cost of supplementary benefits paid to those involved in industrial disputes in Scotland, and their dependants, including payments made after resumption of work, in each of the last 10 years and in the current year to date, expressed at an annual rate;
(3) what was the total cost of supplementary benefits paid to those involved in the recent Scottish textile industry dispute 53W at Arbroath and Hawick, and their dependants, including payments made after return to work and not recovered, and administrative arrangements necessitated thereby.
§ Sir K. JosephFollowing is the information:
PAYMENTS OF SUPPLEMENTARY BENEFIT TO CLAIMANTS INVOLVED IN TRADE DISPUTES PAYMENTS MADE IN RECENT DISPUTES Building trades Scottish textiles £ £ For strikers' dependants. 1,002,064 1,824 For strikers 8,534 Nil Following resumption of work. 133,592 Not yet known All payments made following resumption of work are recoverable. The administrative cost is not available.
Information about disputes in Scotland alone is not available before 1969. Following is the available information:
During disputes Following resumption of work £ £ 1969 27,616 52,436 1970 98,894 114,738 1971 349,900 58,983 1972 (Jan.-Oct.) 1,136,286 275,275 There are no valid assumptions on which to base an annual rate of 1972.