§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will suspend the wage stop and four-week rule (limited awards system) for the duration of the three-day working week emergency.
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§ Mr. DeanNo. These provisions are the responsibility of the Supplementary Benefits Commission. I understand that the commission suspended the operation of the four-week rule from mid-December but that it will still apply the wage-stop, if it would be appropriate, in accordance with a claimant's normal weekly earnings in full-time work, so that the basis of assessment would be the same as before the introduction of the three-day working week.
§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what he estimates has been the extra weekly expenditure since 1st January on social security benefits, as compared with average expenditure for this time of year in recent years, arising from the three-day working week ; and if he will provide a breakdown of this extra expenditure by type of benefit.
§ Mr. DeanUp to 11th January, the latest date for which any figures of expenditure are available, about £1½ million had been paid in unemployment benefit on claims from those working short time because of the present electricity restrictions. No increased expenditure on other social security benefits can be identified.