HC Deb 05 December 1975 vol 901 cc447-8W
Mrs. Chalker

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will list in the Official Report the number of claimants ineligible for unemployment benefit who have had their supplementary benefit (a) reduced, and (b) withdrawn on the grounds that they have left, lost or refused work without good cause for 1970 and subsequent years.

Mr. O'Malley

Following is the information:

SUPPLEMENTARY ALLOWANCES REDUCED
Year Number of claimants affected (from Sample Enquiry)
1970 15,000
1971 19,000
1972 19,000
1973 14,000
1974 22,000

SUPPLEMENTARY ALLOWANCE REFUSED OR WITHDRAWN
Year Number of claimants affected
1970 1,994
1971 12,164
1972 5,595
1973 5,420
1974 5,494
1975 3,459*
* Up to 30th September 1975.

Note: These figures include a small number of cases where supplementary allowances were withdrawn for other reasons.

Mrs. Chalker

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if she will list in the Official Report the number of claimants in 1950, 1960, 1970 and subsequent years who have (a) been disqualified from unemployment benefit, and (b) suffered a 40 per cent. reduction in their supplementary benefit entitlement as a result of leaving their last employment without just cause;

(2) if she will list in the Official Report the number of claimants in 1950, 1960, 1970 and subsequent years who (a) have lost unemployment benefit, and (b) suffered a 40 per cent. reduction in their supplementary benefit for up to six weeks because of their refusal to take suitable employment.

Mr. O'Malley

Following is the information available:

UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT
Year Left voluntarily without just cause Refused suitable employment without just cause
1950 274,000 44,000
1960 226,000 20,000
1970 383,000 18,000
1971 280,000 14,000
1972 292,000 14,000
1973 339,000 15,000
1974 373,000 10,000

Note: Some of the disqualifications were removed, or the period of disallowance reduced on appeal, or revision.

SUPPLEMENTARY BENEFIT

Reductions in Supplementary Benefit cannot be separated in the same way. The statutory 40 per cent. reduction was introduced in 1971 and the figures since then are as follows:—

Year Claimants affected
1971 19,000
1972 19,000
1973 14,000
1974 22,000