HC Deb 26 January 1979 vol 961 cc277-8W
Mr. Sproat

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether his Department is making social security payments in respect of persons, or the families of persons, who are laid-off work as a result of the Transport and General Workers' Union strike.

Mr. Orme

Those laid off will normally get unemployment benefit for themselves and their families.

Mr. Sproat

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list all the headings of tax-free social security benefits to which the family of a striking member of the Transport and General Workers' Union on average wages could be eligible for, during the present Transport and General Workers' Union strike, for which he would not be eligible when he is in full-time employment.

Mr. Orme

If the hon. Member has any particular case in mind, perhaps he will write to me.

Mr. Sproat

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what latest estimate he has made of the amount of money in social security benefits his Department has paid in respect of families of Transport and General Workers' Union strikers over the present dispute;

(2) what latest estimate he has made of the amount of social security benefits that are being paid to persons, or to the families of persons, laid off work as a result of the present Transport and General Workers' Union strike;

(3) what estimate he has made of the total value of social security benefits his Department will pay in respect of the families of all strikers, official and unofficial, during the week Tuesday 16 January 1979 to Monday 22 January 1979 inclusive.

Mr. Orme

I have made no such estimate.

Mr. Sproat

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much will be paid by his Department in tax-free social security benefits to the family of a striker involved in the present Transport and General Workers' Union strike, in respect of being married with three children, aged eight, 11 and 16 years, on average rent and rates.

Mr. Orme

This would depend on the amount of any other resources, such as strike pay, income tax refund and wife's earnings, and also on the amount of any rent and rate rebates.