§ Mrs. Chalkerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the 587W outcome of his review of the requalification test for unemployment benefit carried out recently by his Department.
§ Mr. OrmeWe are proposing to reduce from 21 to 16 the number of hours which a person who has exhausted his right to unemployment benefit has to work for each of 13 weeks in employed earner's employment in order to requalify for benefit. Clause 15(1) of the Social Security (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill provides for the necessary amendment of Section 18(2) of the Social Security Act 1975, and we propose that the easement should take effect from April 1978.