§ Mrs. Chalkerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will investigate the unintended difficulty caused by Regulation 7(1)(h) of the Social Security (Unemployment, Sickness and Invalidity Benefit) Regulations 1975 for those on jury service and at council meetings for which an attendance allowance is payable.
§ Mr. OrmeI am not aware that Regulation 7(1)(h), under which claimants may be disqualified for receiving unemployment benefit if their earnings exceed 75p a day, has caused jurors and councillors any unintended difficulties. The reason why jurors are unable to receive unemployment benefit is that they are not regarded as being available for employment while on jury service. As to councillors, the independent statutory authorities regard local authority attendance allowances as "earnings" and Regulation 7(1)(h) therefore applies to a councillor in the same way as to any other claimant with a subsidiary occupation.