§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services on what authority a local DHSS office adopts procedures other than the four-week rule in cases of alleged voluntary unemployment, and imposes immediate cut-offs with no explicit warning; whether such procedures are being used generally, in respect of active members of the Claimants' Union; and why in such cases, in view of delay in appeal hearings of four weeks or more, benefit is not restored pending appeal.
§ Mr. DeanUnder discretionary powers given to the Supplementary Benefits Commission by paragraph 4(1)(b) of Schedule 2 to the Supplementary Benefit Act 1966 (formerly known as the Ministry of Social Security Act), a supplementary allowance may be summarily refused or withdrawn in certain closely defined circumstances when it is clear that a claimant is voluntary unemployed without good cause and that suitable work is immediately available to him. This power is used only exceptionally; it is irrelevant whether or not the person concerned is a member of the Claimants' Union. Payments may be made to meet urgent need pending an appeal hearing.
§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the cost, respectively, of extending earnings-related unemployment benefit to 12 months and flat-rate unemployment benefit to 18 months; and what would have been these extra costs at today's prices if this had been done in February 1972.
§ Mr. DeanOn the basis of recent unemployment experience the cost to the National Insurance Fund of extending earnings-related supplement payable with unemployment benefit to 12 months 89W would be about £5 million a year, and the cost of extending flat rate unemployment benefit to 18 months would be about £13 million a year. Based on the level of unemployment in February 1972 the cost of these changes, at the then prevailing benefit rate revalued to current prices, would have been £10 million a year and £13 million a year, respectively.