HC Deb 25 July 1979 vol 971 cc305-6W
Mr. Marlow

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will introduce proposals to ensure that an unemployed person who has refused suitable and available employment for a period in excess of six months should receive unemployment benefit and social security payments at an abated rate.

Mr. Prentice

Under existing provisions, a person who refuses suitable employment can be disqualified from unemployment benefit for up to six weeks and any entitlement to supplementary benefit that he may have would normally be reduced by up to 40 per cent. of his personal requirements. We are currently considering the adequacy of the provisions for testing a person's availability for work.