§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will consider the extension of invalidity grants until such time as the degree of invalidity qualifies the claimant for an available rather than a notional job; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. OrmeNo. There is a measure of flexibility while the employment potential of a person who has been receiving incapacity benefit is under review; but, those apart, national insurance benefits are paid for specific contingencies. Sickness and invalidity benefits are payable for so long as a person is incapable of work. If he is capable of work and available for it, whether or not he has immediate prospects of employment, unemployment benefit is properly payable. I do not think that it would be right to class as incapable of work someone who is in fact capable of it, or right to merge the boundaries between incapacity and unemployment benefits.