Benefit

HC Deb 23 December 1976 vol 923 cc321-2W

Mr. Peter Bottomley

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the amount paid out to unemployed

				Unemployment benefit (including earnings-related supplement separately identified in Column (2)) (1) £m.	Earnings-related supplement (included in figures in Column (1)) (2) £m.	Supplementary benefit (3) £m.
1970–71	…	…	…	150	25	88
1971–72	…	…	…	239	42	148
1972–73	…	…	…	209	35	182
1973–74	…	…	…	174	23	159
1974–75	…	…	…	214	34	190
1975–76	…	…	…	454	73	330

Mr. Brotherton

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services in what circumstances social security benefits would be made available to immigrants within their first seven days of arrival.

Mr. Deakins

Supplementary benefit is payable if the claimant is unemployed or over pensionable age and his resources are below his requirements in accordance with the Supplementary Benefit Act. Contributory social security benefits are not payable in any case unless the contribution conditions have been satisfied. Contributions or residence in an EEC country or in another country with whom we have made a reciprocal agreement on social security can sometimes assist the claimant in this respect. There are residence conditions for other benefits, details of which were given in my right hon. Friend's reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South (Mr. Ashley) on 20th December.—[Vol. 923, c.60–61.]

Mr Brotherton

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services under what circumstances social security benefits can be paid to claimants to cover the costs of subscriptions to trades unions; for how long such benefits are paid; and how much was paid out in this way in the last year.

Mr. Orme

In the very rare case where the only impediment to a supplementary benefit recipient's returning to work is the need to clear outstanding arrears of trade union subscriptions, the Supple-

claimants: (a) in unemployment benefit for each year since 1970, (b) in earnings related supplement for each year since 1970 and (c) in supplementary benefit for each year since 1970.

Mr. Deakins

The information, which is readily available only for financial years, is as follows:

mentary Benefits Commission will consider making a single special payment, under its discretionary powers, since it is obviously in the best interests of all concerned that the man should be back at work. Records of these payments are not kept, but the amount involved is thought to be negligible.