§ Mr. Brothertonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services why it is considered necessary to open special social security application centres during the course of industrial disputes.
§ Mr. OrmeClaims from persons involved in industrial disputes are handled at the appropriate local offices whenever possible. Special centres are opened when local offices are not likely to be able to process these claims without delaying their other work and inconveniencing claimants not involved in the disputes.
§ Mr. Brothertonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total sum in rents paid by his Department in the latest years for which figures are available for the operation of strike centres.
§ Mr. OrmeRents for accommodation occupied by my Department are paid by the Property Services Agency. I understand that the information requested is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate expense.
§ Mr. Brothertonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, for each Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development country, public funds are available to strikers and their dependants.
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§ Mr. OrmeI am informed that public funds are not available to strikers and their dependants in Australia, Finland, Greece, Iceland, Japan, New Zealand, Portugal or Spain, but payments of contributory benefits or social assistance may be made in Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, the Irish Republic, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States. I have no information about the position in the remaining OECD countries.
§ Mr. Brothertonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether social security officials are given courses of training in how to operate strike centres to facilitate the payment of benefits to those involved in industrial disputes.
§ Mr. OrmeTraining courses are not provided but guidance is available to local staff from the Department's regional offices.
§ Mr. Brothertonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what expenses are to be paid to the six social security officials drafted in from Bristol to Swindon to help process applications for social security benefits for strikers in the dispute among British Leyland press shop operators.
§ Mr. OrmeStaff from social security offices in Bristol were sent to Swindon to deal with claims for supplementary benefit from British Leyland press shop operators who were on strike. These staff are entitled to travelling expenses and subsistence allowances payable under normal Civil Service rules.
§ Mr. Brothertonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the rent paid on the premises used by social security staff at Swindon to deal with application for benefits from striking British Leyland press shop operators; and by whom the rent was paid.