Industrial Disputes (Benefit)

HC Deb 16 October 1973 vol 861 cc17-8W

Mr. Bruce-Gardyne

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the aggregate cost to date of supplementary benefit payments made to those involved in industrial disputes, and to their dependants, including payments made after resumption of work and not subsequently recovered, since the coming into force of the Government's counter-inflation legislation.

Mr. Dean

Approximately £3,400 and £458,000 respectively by 25th September. Since 3rd April 1972 any payments made following resumption of work are fully recoverable under Section 2 of the Social Security Act 1971.

Mr. Bruce-Gardyne

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the aggregate cost to date of supplementary benefit payments made to

(2) how many men and how many women have died since 1965 after swallowing the weed killer known as paraquat.

Sir K. Joseph

The numbers of deaths from paraquat poisoning recorded in England and Wales are as follows:

those involved in industrial disputes arising from the refusal of employers to accord wage increases deemed to be in excess of the limits indicated by the Government in their counter-inflation legislation, and to their dependants, including payments made after resumption of work and not subsequently recovered.

Mr. Dean

I regret that the precise information requested is not available. It is estimated that about £40,000 has been paid during disputes involving pay claims which, if awarded, might have contravened counter-inflation legislation.

Mr. Bruce-Gardyne

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the aggregate cost of supplementary benefit payments to those involved in disputes in the motor car industry over the past three months, and to their dependants, including payments made after return to work and not recovered, and administrative arrangements necessitated thereby.

Mr. Dean

Because the disputes have been small in scale, the information requested has not been reported by my Department's local offices and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.