Supplementary Benefit (Industrial Disputes)

HC Deb 11 July 1979 vol 970 cc192-3W

Mr. John Evans

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what was the total amount of supplementary benefits paid, in 1974 and each subsequent year to the latest available date, to strikers and their families for official trade union-backed strikes lasting less than one week, between one and two weeks, between two and three weeks, between three and four weeks, and over four weeks, respectively;

(2) what was the total amount of supplementary benefit paid, in 1974 and each subsequent year to the latest available date, to strikers and their families for unofficial strikes lasting less than one week; between one and two weeks, between two and three weeks, between three and four weeks, and more than four weeks, respectively.

Mr. Prentice

This information is not available. The statistics of supplementary benefit payments to strikers do not differentiate between official and unofficial strikes, or between strikes of varying length. It is, however, unlikely that payment would be made in a dispute lasting less than two weeks since this period is usually covered by final earnings.