§ Mr. Ridleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the number of persons who, since the coming into force of the Social Security Act 1975, have been denied unemployment benefit (a) by insurance officers, (b) by local tribunals, and (c) by the National Insurance Commissioners, respectively, after losing their jobs for refusing to join a particular trade union.
§ Mr. O'MalleySo far as we are aware, since April 1975 no person has been disqualified for receiving unemployment benefit by an insurance officer or a local tribunal on the ground that he was dismissed for refusing to join a particular union, but to verify this a disproportionate expenditure of staff time would be needed, It is known that the National Insurance Commissioner has not disqualified anyone on this ground in the same period.
§ Mrs. Chalkerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the net cost of paying all unemployed claimants a national insurance benefit set at £3 above the long-term supplementary benefit scale rate; and if she will estimate the net cost taking into account the saving on supplementary benefit.
§ Mr. O'MalleyIf flat-rate unemployment benefit were paid at the suggested rates to all persons who are registered for work except married women who have chosen not to pay full contributions, and if earning-related supplement ceased to be payable, the extra cost of unemployment benefit would be about £900 million a year. Savings on supplementary benefit would reduce the cost to about £500 million a year.