§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if the national insurance officers have been experiencing any new and special difficulties in operating the "test of availability" in respect of persons claiming unemployment benefit; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PrenticeThe condition that a claimant to unemployment benefit must be available for employment has not given rise to any new problems. However, testing the "availability" of some categories of claimants, for example, occupational pensioners, has always presented special difficulties.