HC Deb 19 October 1976 vol 917 cc419-20W
Dr. McDonald

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the reasons for the non-payment of unemployment benefit to workers at the Isle of Grain power station made redundant by Babcock and Wilcox on 30th June 1976.

Mr. Harold Walker

Under the Social Security Act 1975, Section 19(1), a person who loses employment because of a stoppage of work due to a trade dispute at his place of employment will be disqualified for receiving unemployment benefit unless he can satisfy the independent statutory authorities that neither he nor anyone in his grade or class is participating in, financing or is directly interested in the dispute.

On 16th June 1976 approximately 900 workers who were in dispute with Babcock and Wilcox, Isle of Grain, withdrew their labour. Consequently all employees who were participating in the dispute were disqualified for receiving unemployment benefit for the duration of the dispute. On the 25th June employees were informed by their employer that unless there was a full return to normal working by 8 a.m. on 30th June their employment would be terminated from that time. Employees did not return to normal working and the stoppage of work continues. It is for the independent statutory authorities, who decide all claims for unemployment benefit, to decide when a dispute and hence disqualification for receiving benefit should end.