§ Mr. Biffenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the estimated total unemployment benefit paid to people who have been rendered temporarily unemployed on account of strikes during the last three years.
§ Mr. DeanI regret that the information requested is not available, but I am writing to my hon. Friend.
§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action 23W he is taking to obtain publicity and wide distribution for his leaflet refuting statements made in the "Claimants' Handbook for Strikers" regarding entitlement to benefits from the State.
§ Mr. DeanThe explanatory leaflet "Supplementary Benefits and Trade Disputes" is published by the Supplementary Benefits Commission. I understand that the chairman of the commission brought it to the attention of the General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress, the Secretary of the Scottish Trades Union Congress and the secretaries of major trade unions at the time of publication in February. Stocks of the leaflet are also available for issue as appropriate in most of my Department's regional and local social security offices.