§ Mrs. Knightasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what sum was paid out in social security benefits to strikers and their families in the period from 1st November 1972 to 1st May 1973; and how this sum compares with that paid out in the previous six months.
§ Mr. DeanFollowing is the information in regard to supplementary benefit:
Payments during Trade Disputes Post Dispute payments Period Strikers Strikers families Strikers and their families £ £ £ 1st November 1972–1st May 1973 1,936 283,258 19,814* 3rd May 1972–31st October 1972 21,822 2,509,334 219,247* * Under Section 2 of the Social Security Act 1971 these payments are fully recoverable by deductions from wages in instalments; in practice recovery is not fully effected until some time after the period in which the payment was made.