§ Mr. Goodladasked the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received about the actions of his Department in connection with the payment of unemployment benefit to workers laid off by Rolls-Royce Motors Limited in January 1978; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GoldingRepresentations received in connection with the lay-off at Rolls-Royce Motors Limited have concerned (i) the application of the rules that unemployment benefit should not be paid for days on which a claimant does not normally work except where employment has terminated—this question is currently being considered by the adjudicating authorities—and that it is not payable for days covered by entitlement to a guarantee payment; (ii) the fairness of the rule that a shiftworker is not entitled to benefit for a day, ending at midnight, on which the main part of his shift work falls; and (iii) the information and advice available at unemployment benefit offices.
I am making inquiries about the handling of these claims.